By Stanley Onyekwere
In the rural heartlands of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a quiet but profound transformation is underway. Beyond the bustling city center, in the often-overlooked corners of the territory’s six Area Councils, a massive, coordinated effort is striving to ensure that a child’s birth is not merely a family milestone, but a recognized legal reality.
The FCT Administration (FCTA), under the leadership of Minister Nyesom Wike, has officially launched an ambitious social mobilization campaign aimed at overhauling birth registration. This initiative is more than just a bureaucratic task; it is a fundamental effort to secure the future of the FCT’s youngest citizens.
The Foundation of Development
The urgency behind this campaign is rooted in a stark reality: accurate data is the bedrock of effective governance. Without reliable statistics on the number of children born each year, the government struggles to plan for essential services, from immunization schedules to school infrastructure.
“These children need to be properly captured and documented as citizens of the FCT and Nigeria,” noted Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, Mandate Secretary for the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat.
Speaking through Dr. Idris Yahaya Attah, Director of the Child Development Department, at the launch in the Palace of the Ona of Abaji, she highlighted the specific challenge of reaching families who welcome children outside of formal hospital settings. For these children, birth registration acts as the first key to unlocking their rights, granting them a legal identity that connects them to the protections and benefits of the state.
A Unified Front
Recognizing that this gap cannot be closed in isolation, the Women Affairs Secretariat has forged a strategic coalition. By bringing together the technical expertise of the National Population Commission (NPC), the foundational records of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and the community mobilization power of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and ALGON, the FCTA is ensuring that the exercise reaches every village.
UNICEF Nigeria has also thrown its weight behind the project. Mrs. Phydelia Abbas, representing the organization, reiterated that the ultimate goal is to ensure “no child is left behind,” underscoring the international importance of this grassroots push.
A Call to Action for Parents
The registration exercise is completely free of charge, targeting infants (0–1 year) and children (1–5 years). The FCTA has laid out a clear, phased schedule to ensure comprehensive coverage across the FCT:
