FG inaugurates census publicity committee

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The federal government has inaugurated 2023 census publicity committee.
Inaugurating the committee on Thursday in Abuja, Chairman of the Committee and the Minister of Information, Lai Muhammed said, “Census is a legacy programme of the Buhari Administration, hence we are featuring it here on our Scorecard Series. As you are aware, Nigeria last held a population census in
2006. That’s about 17 years ago – almost an eternity when you consider the importance of population census to national development. It is recommended that a national population census be held every 10 years.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the conduct of the 2023 Population andHousing Census is a top priority for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. It is borne out of the desire to bequeath an enduring legacy of evidence-based planning for sustainable development.
“Our population remains the most important equation in our
national development. The people are both the agents and beneficiaries of development process, hence development must start and end with meeting the aspirations of the people for improved living standard.
The Buhari Administration has invested heavily in human capital development, social infrastructure, agricultural development, e.t.c., all part of building Nigeria’s economic base. The conduct of the 2023
Population and Housing Census is therefore to complement the giant strides of government by laying a sustainable basis for a planned and prosperous Nigeria.
“The Federal Government notes with satisfaction and commendation the effort of the Commission to positively rewrite the history of census in Nigeria through meticulous planning and massive deployment of technology at every stage of the national exercise. We are
happy to note that the Commission is not only making efforts to conduct the 2023 Census but also laying a solid foundation for the seamless conduct of future censuses.”
On his part, Nasir Isa Kwarra,
Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), said overarching vision of the 2023 census is to produce not only accurate, reliable and acceptable census data but also an inclusive and user-friendly data that will be used by all segments of the society for development planning and critical programme interventions.
“Therefore, as part of this commitment, the Commission will deploy full digital technology in the conduct of the Census and it will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the results of the census is acceptable to Nigerians and the quality of the data to be generated meets international best standards. This aspiration has informed the methodology and quality of preparations for the census in the last few years. In all these, the need for Advocacy, Publicity and Public Enlightenment cannot be overemphasised.
“Therefore, the mobilization of critical stakeholders to support and take ownership of the process to achieve the desired outcome is imperative and it hinges absolutely on our ability to speak to the people in the language that will galvanize and mobilize them to participate in the 2023 census.
“ To this end, the Commission will be relying on your expertise and structures to drive the message into every home and household to drum up support and participation in the 2023 Population and Housing Census.
“In order to ensure that members of the National Census Publicity Committee have good grasp of the processes and methodology of the 2023 Population and Housing Census, a workshop will be organized to keep members of the Committee up-to-date on the preparation for the census. In addition, the Committee should be rest assured of the Commission’s full support for it to deliver on this very important national assignment.”