On 16 September 2026, Semlex took part in Identity Day (IDDAY 2026) in Abidjan, an event dedicated to current challenges surrounding legal identity and its role in the digital transformation of governments.

Bringing together institutional representatives, experts, partners and stakeholders from across the identity ecosystem, the event provided an opportunity to examine the transformations currently underway in Ivory Coast and, more broadly, the emerging uses of identity across the African continent.

From Administrative Identity to Identity in Everyday Life

During the opening conference, Ago Christian Kodia, Director General of the National Office for Civil Registration and Identification (ONECI) and ID4Africa Ambassador for Ivory Coast, spoke on the theme “My Identity, My Shadow.”

The theme reflects the growing role of identity throughout a citizen’s life. Today, identity extends far beyond the scope of an official document: it establishes the link between individuals, their rights and the various services they need to access.

Identity has therefore become an essential component of modern public infrastructure. It plays a role at different stages of life and enables public authorities to provide services that are more accessible, more efficient and better integrated.

Civil Registration as the Foundation of a Reliable Identity Ecosystem

The discussions also highlighted the central role of civil registration. Recording the events that mark a person’s life, beginning with birth, provides the foundation for a recognised and lasting legal identity.

Modernising civil registration systems is therefore a major priority. The digitalisation of procedures, the interconnection of registration centres and the secure exchange of information can help improve data quality, reduce administrative burdens and strengthen the continuity of services provided to citizens.

Beyond digitalisation, the challenge lies in building systems that can communicate with one another, enabling identity to effectively support citizens in their interactions with public authorities and essential services.

Putting People at the Heart of Identity Systems

Dr Joseph Atick, Executive Chairman of ID4Africa, also encouraged stakeholders in the sector to consider identity through the lens of its real impact on people.

“No child should begin life in invisibility, and no one should have to constantly prove their existence,” he said.

This approach encourages us to move beyond a vision of identity based solely on registration or the issuance of documents. An identity system achieves its full value when it enables citizens to exercise their rights, access services and participate fully in economic and social life.

This evolution must, however, be accompanied by strong safeguards regarding the reliability of information, system security and the protection of personal data.

Semlex, a Partner in the Transformation of Identity Systems

The topics addressed during IDDAY 2026 are directly reflected in the projects carried out by Semlex, particularly in Ivory Coast, where the company has been supporting the modernisation of the country’s national identity and civil registration infrastructure for several years.

Through the solutions deployed alongside the National Office for Civil Registration and Identification (ONECI), Semlex contributes to the development of an integrated environment in which civil registration and identification operate in a complementary and interconnected manner. This approach directly addresses one of the key challenges discussed during the conference: establishing a reliable legal identity from the moment vital events are registered and ensuring its continuity throughout a citizen’s life.

From the registration and digitalisation of data to citizen identification, system interconnection and the production of secure documents, the solutions implemented help strengthen the reliability and availability of information, simplify administrative procedures and facilitate access to public services.

Beyond the issuance of documents, the objective is to establish an identity infrastructure capable of supporting citizens over the long term in their interactions with public authorities, while ensuring system security and the protection of personal data.

Semlex’s participation in IDDAY 2026 therefore provided another valuable opportunity to engage with stakeholders across the sector and exchange experiences on challenges that are already being addressed through concrete initiatives on the ground.

Launched by ID4Africa, Identity Day has brought together stakeholders since 2018 around a shared objective: advancing the recognition of legal identity and promoting the development of systems capable of serving populations sustainably.

For Semlex, this ambition is rooted in a fundamental belief: identity is not an end in itself, but rather the starting point that enables citizens to access their rights, services and opportunities throughout their lives.