Nigeria Should Adopt Digital Birth Reg. to Achieve Robust Database – NPC
A Federal Commissioner of the National Population Commission (NPC) in Ogun, Mr Fasuwa Johnson, has suggested the adoption of digital birth registration to create a reliable database for Nigeria.
He made this suggestion at the sidelines of the ongoing training for ad-hoc staff recruited by the commission on e-birth registration on Friday.
He emphasised that the current manual system had been plagued by multiple registrations, fake birth certificates and inaccurate population data.
Fasuwa revealed that over 1,500 personnel across 20 local government areas in the state were undergoing training to implement e-birth registration for children under five.
He highlighted the importance of accurate data for effective planning and policymaking commending the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for championing the campaigns on e-birth registration.
According to him, the initiative will aid proper planning and policy formulation by the government.
“We need to make sure that the birth registration drive should be built on the e-registration; if we are able to get this right which UNICEF is trying to help with, it will be a very good one.
“UNICEF is working with the NPC to make this work. And the NPC has also embarked on advocacy by engaging traditional rulers, community leaders and opinion moulders, to spread the gospel of e-birth registration in Ogun State.
“The registration will be done from house to house in order to ensure that every child is captured.
“We, therefore, want to urge parents and guardians to secure the future of their children by registering their birth through the e-registration platform,”Fasuwa said.
The Chief of UNICEF Field Office for South West, Ms Celine Lafoucriere, had said at a recent media dialogue that e-birth registration exercise would enhance effective planning and execution of socio-economic development of Nigeria.
According to her, UNICEF is committed to ensuring that every child gets legal identity, which is a fundamental right of the children.
She added that e-birth registration would help eliminate challenges being faced by parents in getting the right identity for their children.
Lafoucriere further said that birth registration would, in no small measure, assist governments and organisations at all levels.
This, she added, would help to formulate policies and programmes across education, health and other sectors in the interest of the children and the society. Nigerians Commend NIS for Improved Passport Services
