Parents and guardians of children below the age of five have been asked to support the ongoing e-birth registration programme of the federal government to ensure its success, particularly in the FCT.
The e-birth registration was flagged off in August 2024, by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, aimed at ensuring that every Nigerian child has access to education, healthcare and other essential services through accurate birth registration.
Unfortunately, the nation’s capital is still struggling to meet its target of registering 248,000 children before the end of the exercise later this month.
FCT Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, Joseph Shazin, said at the moment, the FCT has achieved only 18 percent behind other states in Northern Nigerian, but that with the launch of the programme, the target will be met.
Shazin, who stated this at press briefing on E-birth Registration and Social Mobilisation Drive said the NPC has already deployed its staff to the grassroots and is employing viable options to ensure that FCT meets its target.
The commissioner therefore appealed for more support and cooperation from partners and stakeholders.
On her part, the Director, National Orientation Agency, NOA, FCT Directorate, Joy Agbanusi, 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.
In his good will message, the United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF, Representative and Child Protection Officer, 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.
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