BIRTH REGISTRATION REMAINS CRITICAL INVESTMENT IN EVERY NIGERIAN CHILD’S FUTURE — KUJE COUNCIL CHAIRMAN

By: Olubunmi Labiyi and Martha Shibayan

The Executive Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Hon. Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, has described birth registration as a critical investment in the future of every Nigerian child, emphasizing that legal identity is the foundation for accessing education, healthcare, social protection and other essential government services.

Hon. Shekwolo made the remark during the closing ceremony of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Birth Certificate Printing and Issuance Campaign held at the Palace of the Gomo of Kuje.

The campaign, organised by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) through the Women Affairs Secretariat in collaboration with the National Population Commission (NPC), the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), and supported by UNICEF Nigeria, is aimed at ensuring that every child in the FCT obtains a legal identity through free birth registration and the issuance of birth certificates for children aged 0–5 years.

The exercise commenced on June 19, 2026, in Kwali Area Council before extending to the remaining five Area Councils, reaching thousands of eligible children and families across the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking at the event, Hon. Shekwolo commended the FCTA, the National Population Commission, UNICEF Nigeria and other development partners for bringing the initiative closer to grassroots communities.

He noted that birth registration provides children with official recognition by the government and serves as the gateway to education, healthcare, social protection programmes and other opportunities available to every Nigerian child.

The Council Chairman urged parents and guardians who are yet to register their children to take advantage of the free exercise, stressing that no child should be denied opportunities because of the absence of legal documentation.

He also reaffirmed the commitment of the Kuje Area Council Administration to supporting programmes that promote child welfare, protection and inclusive development.

Representing the Permanent Secretary of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, the Acting Director of the Child Development Department, Dr. Idris Yahaya Attah, applauded the collaboration among stakeholders, describing it as instrumental to the successful implementation of the campaign across the six Area Councils.

According to Dr. Attah, birth registration is a fundamental right and the first official acknowledgement of a child’s existence by the government. He explained that accurate birth registration not only safeguards children’s rights but also provides reliable demographic data needed for effective planning, policy formulation, resource allocation and national development.

He encouraged parents, guardians and caregivers to embrace birth registration as a civic responsibility that secures children’s futures while strengthening Nigeria’s Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system.

Also speaking, the FCT Director of the National Population Commission, Alhaji Suleiman Gada, advised parents to provide accurate information during registration, particularly the correct spelling and arrangement of their children’s names.

He warned that errors made during registration often require formal corrections later, resulting in avoidable administrative costs and delays. He added that accurate records are essential throughout a person’s lifetime for school admissions, international travel, employment, inheritance and other official transactions.

UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Mrs. Phydelia Abbas, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting birth registration initiatives across Nigeria.

She described birth registration as a fundamental human right that guarantees every child a legal identity and promotes inclusion in national development. According to her, children without birth certificates face a higher risk of exclusion from essential services and legal protection.

Mrs. Abbas commended the strong partnership among the FCTA, NPC and ALGON, assuring stakeholders that UNICEF would continue to provide technical and strategic support towards achieving universal birth registration across the Federal Capital Territory and the country.

The event also featured testimonials from beneficiaries of the programme.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Choice Ikpeoha, who obtained a birth certificate for her two-year-old son, Goodluck Chidiebube Kingsley, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and the implementing partners for making the exercise free and easily accessible.

She described the registration process as simple, orderly and stress-free, encouraging other parents to take advantage of the initiative to secure legal identity documents for their children.

The FCTA reiterated its commitment to ensuring that no child in the Federal Capital Territory remains undocumented. The Administration also expressed appreciation to the National Population Commission, ALGON, UNICEF Nigeria and other stakeholders for their support in the successful implementation of the campaign across all six Area Councils of the FCT.