NOA partners NPC, UNICEF to launch birth registration social mobilization drive

By Ochiaka Ugwu

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) FCT Directorate in partnership with National Population Commission (NPC) and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has launch a nationwide birth registration social mobilization drive to ensure that every child in Nigeria has access to education, healthcare, and other essential services.

Speaking during the launch in Abuja Tuesday, Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) FCT Directorate, Mrs. Ijeoma Agbanusi who said she was excited to announce the launch of a nationwide birth registration social mobilisation drive, noted the initiative was focused on registering all children aged 0-5 years and providing them with a National Identification Number (NIN) free of charge.

Continuing, Agbanusi said birth registration was a fundamental right of every child, and the initiative seeks to highlight its importance to the child, the family, the community, and the nation at large.

She informed that birth registration was the first legal acknowledgement of a child’s existence and essential for safeguarding their rights and privileges for now and in the future.

She also described it as the key to unlocking access to basic services such as education and healthcare, which was crucial for a child’s development and future.

She said that accurate birth registration which targets every child aged 0-5 was vital for national planning, development and provides government with essential data to plan for education, healthcare, and other public services.

Also speaking, FCT Federal Commissioner for National Population Commission (NPC), Hon. Joseph Shazin who lamented the low percentage of e-birth registration in FCT stressed the need for concerted effort to raise the bar and achieve the desired result.

Head of Traditional Rulers in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Etsu Jikwoyi, Chief Bawa Jatar who pledged total support for the exercise said there was need to generate data that would help in addressing grassroots challenges.

UNICEF’s Child Protection Officer, Charles Awuna said that UNICEF was in the forefront of birth registration globally and would want the support of all stakeholders to succeed.