UNILAG Moves Closer to Cashless Campus With Launch of Smart Identity and Payment Card

Students and staff at the University of Lagos can now carry out financial transactions and verify their identity using a single card, following the launch of a new system that merges campus identification with debit card functionality.

The Smart ID Project, a collaboration between LOTUS Bank and technology firm Heckerbella, was formally unveiled at UNILAG on Friday in a ceremony that brought together University leadership, faculty members, students, and senior representatives from both companies. Vice Chancellor Prof. Folasade T. Ogunsola presented the cards to students and staff at the event, marking what the University described as a significant step in its shift towards a technology driven campus environment.

Under the arrangement, Heckerbella handles data capture, card production, and issuance for students and staff, while LOTUS Bank provides the debit functionality that allows cardholders to make cashless payments both on and off campus. The system is also designed to manage access control across university facilities.

Managing Director of LOTUS Bank, Dr. Isiaka Ajani Lawal, said the project was built around a clear objective. "The Smart ID Project represents a forward thinking collaboration that merges identity management, access control, and financial services into a single secure platform. In partnership with UNILAG and Heckerbella, we are delivering a solution that enhances convenience, strengthens security, and accelerates the transition toward a modern, cashless campus," he said.

Heckerbella Managing Director Ms. Yemi Keri said the project illustrated how education, banking, and technology could be brought together to address practical institutional needs.

Beyond convenience, the University has indicated that the card is expected to reduce administrative inefficiencies across faculties and departments and to support broader financial inclusion among its student population.

Whether those ambitions are met will depend on how smoothly the rollout proceeds across one of Nigeria's largest and most populous University campuses.