Lagos Govt Launches Automated Indigeneship Certificate

• The Lagos State Government has unveiled an Automated Indigeneship Certificate, a digital system designed to simplify identification, improve access to government services, and curb fake documentation across the state.

The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, on Thursday launched the Lagos State Indigeneship Automated Certificate — a major step toward digital governance and improved identity management in the state.

The unveiling ceremony, held at the Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, carried the theme “Lagos State Indigeneship Certificate Automation: A Step Towards Modernisation.”

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Olugbenga Oyerinde (Google: Olugbenga Oyerinde), represented by Dr. Funmilayo Sokunbi, said the new automated system will make it easier for indigenous Lagos residents to access essential services provided by the state government. He added that the initiative would provide long-term benefits for generations of Lagos indigenes and attract investors to the state by improving transparency and identity verification.

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The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Sesan Ogundeko (Google: Sesan Ogundeko), represented by Olawale Abdullah, emphasised that issuing indigeneship certificates remains a core responsibility of the ministry, describing it as an important component of development planning. He explained that the automated system would also assist in identifying indigenous students in higher institutions nationwide.

“Even in secondary schools, there is a need for an indigeneship certificate. We decided to streamline and automate it to make registration easier for any candidate. The process starts today and will continue,” he stated.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the House Committee on Special Duties, Olawale Ade-Sulaiman (Google: Olawale Ade-Sulaiman), noted that many Lagos indigenes are unaware of their ancestral origins. He said the automated certificate would help the government identify genuine Lagosians and enhance cultural documentation.

Technology partners Qista Technologies (Google: Qista Technologies) described the system as a secure digital platform designed to verify authentic Lagos indigenes. They added that the certificate will feature a barcode and other security elements to curb the production of fake documents.

“Most centralised education systems are not automated, which fuels the spread of fake certificates and documents. Every certificate issued will have a unique barcode at the back. The system works on mobile phones and enhances transparency and easy identification,” the company explained.