Nigerians Urged To Support E-Birth Registration

By: Victoria Agorom

Nigerians have been urged to support the ongoing e-birth registration flagged off in August 2024, by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

The Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Federal Capital Territory Directorate, Mrs. Joy Ijeoma Agbanusi, made the call during a press briefing on E-birth Registration and Social Mobilisation Drive organsied by NOA in collaboration with National Population Commission (NPC) and the United Nations Children Fund ( UNICEF) in Abuja.

The Director stated that the programme is aimed at ensuring that every Nigerian child has access to education, healthcare and other essential services through accurate birth registration.

She said that under the exercise, which will last till the end of November 2024, children from zero to five years will be captured and National Identity Number provided for them free of charge.

She said that birth registration is a fundamental right of every child and crucial to national development as it provides the government with accurate data, which can enhance proper economic planning.

According to her, it is the first acknowledgement of a child’s existence and essential for safeguarding his/her rights and privileges both now and in the future.

Agbanusi, therefore, called on parents and guardians as well leaders at all spheres to join hands to ensure that the programme is successful, particularly in the FCT.

Also speaking at the occasion, the FCT Federal Commissioner, NPC, Joseph Shazin, said the Commission has already deployed its staff to the grassroots and is employing viable options to ensure that FCT target of two hundred and forty eight thousand children is achieved.

He said that at the moment FCT has achieved only eighteen percent behind other states in Northern Nigerian, but that with the launch of the programme, the target will be met.

The Commissioner appreciated stakeholders and appealed for more support and cooperation from them.

In his good will message, UNICEF Representative and Child Protection Officer, Mr. Charles Awuna, said that UNICEF is at the forefront in the birth registration drive globally; saying it is an important civic responsibility.

He also called on all stakeholders to collaborate with government for the success of the exercise and hoped that the success as recorded in other states will be replicated in the FCT.