Biometric authentication technology firm, Identy.io, has disclosed plans to deepen its footprint in Africa, with Nigeria identified as a priority market, while appointing Dr. Olajide Olasiyan-Ola to lead its West African operations.
The company, which specialises in mobile-first biometric identity verification, says its Africa expansion will initially focus on Nigeria and Kenya, reflecting growing public and private sector investments in digital identity systems across the continent.
In a statement made available to Technology Times today, Identy.io said Dr. Olasiyan-Ola’s appointment is part of its regional leadership strategy aimed at engaging with governments, financial institutions, telecoms operators and other regulated sectors as it explores partnerships and deployments in Nigeria.
The company says its technology approach is software-led, reducing dependence on specialised biometric hardware by enabling biometric capture via standard smartphones, document processing, digital identity issuance and large-scale biometric verification and deduplication.
Identy.io targets Nigeria’s rising focus on digital public infrastructure
Dr. Olasiyan-Ola brings more than two decades of experience in biometric identity and digital infrastructure projects. He previously played senior roles in major identity initiatives, including Nigeria’s Bank Verification Number (BVN) programme, one of the country’s most significant digital identity efforts. He holds a PhD in Leadership, an MBA with distinction from Keller Graduate School, and a BSc in Information Technology.
Identy.io’s planned Nigeria push comes against the backdrop of increased attention on digital public infrastructure, as authorities seek to link identity systems with financial services, mobile connectivity and public service delivery. World Bank ID4D data cited by the company indicates that while basic identification coverage in Sub-Saharan Africa is relatively high, gaps remain across several countries, limiting access to services and economic participation.
The company says its technology approach is software-led, reducing dependence on specialised biometric hardware by enabling biometric capture via standard smartphones, document processing, digital identity issuance and large-scale biometric verification and deduplication.
As part of its readiness for government-aligned deployments, Identy.io disclosed that its Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) has completed compliance processes with the Modular Open Source Identity Platform (MOSIP)Â and is listed on the MOSIP Marketplace, which governments use to evaluate identity technologies.
Beyond Nigeria, Identy.io has also appointed Edwin Mutisya as Senior Sales Manager for East Africa, based in Kenya, and Matus Kapusta as Product Director for its ABIS portfolio. Kapusta will oversee the development and delivery of biometric solutions at scale.
The company said its Africa expansion will follow a phased approach, with further market entries expected as it aligns with national digital transformation priorities across the region.
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