NIPOST introduces digital address verification system, creates one million jobs

In its  bid to bring business closer to the people, enhance e-commerce service  and create  job for unemployed youths in the country, the  Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has introduced a digital Address Verification System (AVS).
NIPOST has also introduced   other products including E -money  order,  E-Stamp, Property and workshop (estate  development)  ,agricultural programme, among others.
South East Zonal director of NIPOST,  Dr Abianga Asuquo, made this known in an address he presented to mark the 2018 world post Day .The zonal manager disclosed  that,,”The postmaster general and Chief executive  officer of the  federation,  Busi Adegbuyi, had in his attempt  to repositioning NIPOST,  kick started  the restructuring  strategy on the 3rd July,  2017 ,with the decentralisation  of administration  into Seven(7) zones and creation of Seven (7) commercial  business units.
 “”The reform agenda is aimed  at attainment  of strategic importance,  operational  efficiency,  accessibility,  penetration and financial accretion. Hence,  NIPOST has not only become  a household  name  but a change driver  in the  economy  of this country “, he said. 
On  the digital address verification system,  Asuquo  explained that  “Most of our streets are unnamed and the houses remained unnumbered and that in view of that,  the Nigerian Postal Services accelerated  the development of digital addressing, which is currently receiving worldwide acclaim on innovation and creating a plain field for all players in the sector.
The zonal manager added  that unemployed youths in the country would be engaged to verify the addresses of Nigerians and would earn a stayed income.“We would use millions of Nigerian youths as our address verification agents to enable them to make money. All they have to do is to come with a simple smartphone with Internet connection, go to a location, and verify people’s address. They will take their details and photograph, which will be automatically uploaded into our database,” he said.
According to him, “The person who wants an address to be verified for him or her wants to use it for a purpose, either to access government services, to procure international passport, or to procure driver’s license. He or she is going to pay N1, 000 as address verification fee. So, this means if you can verify as many addresses as possible, you can make a lot of money.”
He added that NIPOST was committed to using its widespread infrastructure to provide employment for the people, reduce poverty and create wealth.
   On his part,  the Postmaster-General, NIPOST, Bisi Adegbuyi, who was represented by the zonal manager,  South East,  Dr Abianga Asuquo stated that NIPOST  offer  services such as banking, property and development, transport and logistics were  introduced in order to diversify its revenue streams. On E-Commerce,  the deputy zonal  manager,  Nkiru  Onaga   said it is an on-line  platform which facilitates trade. 
The director -general of the Universal Post Union,  UPU,  International  Bureau ,Bishar Hussein noted that,  ” Everyday around  the globe, postal  serviced make a difference  in the  lives  of people  and communities  by providing affordable  trusted and reliable communication services to all the Post  delivering  good to the World  “. The theme of this year’s celebration is, ‘The Post, Delivering Goods to the World ” A paper entitled :” Significance  of the Post  to the Development of Small Medium  Enterprises ” was delivered at the occasion by Christian Odigbo.
Highlight of the occasion  was presentation of sums of One hundred thousand niara  and Seventy -Five thousand niara  respectively to Grace  Okogbo, a student of the Federal government college,  Umuahia, winner of  the 2018 Universal Post Union national essay writing competition and Okorie Chiamaka, student  of International  secondary school,  Orlu.