By Olawale Asake/ Mojisola Oladele
There is a need for Digital Birth Registration in Nigeria for the Government to have adequate plans for the Children to have unhindered access to health, education and other essential social services.
This was the basis of the Stakeholders Forum and News Conference organized by the National Orientation Agency, NOA, in Collaboration with the United Nations International Children’s Fund, UNICEF and the National Population Commission, NPC, held at the NOA Secretariat, Ibadan, Oyo State.
While speaking on the exercise, State Director, NOA, Oyo State, Dr Olukemi Afolayan said, the ongoing phase of the digital birth registration would end in November 2024, to register all children from ages zero to five, adding that the registered children would be given National Identification Number, NIN, and birth certificate without charges.
Dr Afolayan called on every Stakeholder to work together to give every child in Nigeria the best start in life, saying registering their birth would not only secure their future but also contribute to national development.
On his part, the Director of the National Population Commission, NPC, Oyo State, Mr Akin Oyetunde who was represented by a Coordinator in the Commission, Mr Peter Ojelakin maintained that accurate birth registration was vital for national planning and development, as it would enable the government to have essential data to plan for its Citizens.
Mr Oyetunde said, NPC ad-hoc staff would adopt house–to–a house system to ensure a successful registration exercise across the 33 Local Government Areas of Oyo State, adding that, parents could also visit the nearest NPC Office in their area or visit the Office of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, in all the Local Government Areas of the State for seamless exercise.
In their separate remarks, Iyaloja of Ibadanland, Alhaja Iswat Amiringun and a Traditional Leader, Baale Moshood Olaleye who acknowledged that every child must have identity with digital documentation, promised to educate the people in their Areas on the essence of birth registration and the need to cooperate with the Government Agents.
According to UNICEF, a child without a birth certificate is faceless, unaccounted for and unknown while failure to register the birth of a child not only denies the child the right to essential protective services but also exposes him or her to the risk of rights violation at every stage of life.
Similarly, stakeholders want Parents and Guardians to visit the nearest Registration Center of the National Population Commission, NPC, for the Birth Registration of their Children.
They made the call during a Press Conference on the Birth Registration Social Mobilization Drive organized by the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Osun State Directorate, in conjunction with the National Population Commission, NPC and UNICEF held at the NOA Secretariat, Oshogbo.
In her remark, the State Director, of NOA, Mrs Bola Morgan said NOA, in partnership with the National Population Commission and UNICEF is formally announcing the launch of Nationwide Birth Registration, aimed at ensuring that every child in Nigeria has access to Education, Healthcare and other essential services.
Mrs. Morgan ” The National Orientation Agency, NOA in partnership with the National Population Commission, NPC and United Nations International Children Emergency Fund, UNICEF is formally announcing the launching of Nationwide Birth Registration, aimed at ensuring that every child in Nigeria has access to Education, Health and other essential services “
Mrs Morgan explained that the drive focuses on registering all children from age zero to Five years and providing them with a National Identification Number, NIN, free of charge.
Also Speaking, the state NPC Director, Mr. Gbenga Osungbohun and The State Immunization Officer, Mrs Olaore Adeosun who explained that UNICEF wants every child to have an identity, urged Stakeholders, including; the Media, NGOs, Market men and Women to educate the public on the essence of birth registration.
In their separate remarks, The Health Promotion Officer, from State Primary Education, Mrs Adeniji Taiwo and A Representative of NIMC, Mr Adedayo Olusola described Birth Registration as the first legal acknowledgement of a Child’s existence, essential to safeguarding their Rights and privileges.
Present at the event included, the Alaabeere of Abeere, Oba Abdulkalid Adelakin, a Representative of CAN Chairman Osun State, Bishop Ebenezer Ogunmodede, Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs, Market Men and Women amongst other distinguished personalities.
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