By Awwal Umar Kontagora The National Population Commission (NPC) in Niger State is set to train youth on the upcoming children’s census. S...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The National Population Commission (NPC) in Niger State is set to train youth on the upcoming children’s census.
Speaking at the opening of the training program, Hon. Muhammad Dattijo Usman (Ubandoman Minna), the NPC Commissioner for Niger State, stated that there has been a discrepancy in accurately recording children's births, which affects the country's population data. He emphasized the need to obtain complete and accurate information at birth registration to ensure proper documentation in the national population register.
He further explained that it is crucial to collect full details of newborns so they can be included in the national population register and issued a National Identification Number (NIN). This way, even as the child grows, there will be no difficulty in ensuring they are recognized as citizens.
The Commissioner clarified that the initiative is not only for newborns but for all young children whose parents confirm they do not have a birth certificate. This measure will aid the government in preparing budgets for developmental projects.
The training, organized in collaboration with UNICEF, will last for three days and will train 1,680 participants who will carry out the census across the 25 local government areas in Niger State.
Ubandoman Minna added that the census will be conducted over three weeks, and the Commission will ensure that all areas of the state are covered to guarantee the program’s success.
The Commissioner mentioned that they expect to record a population of 276,000 children in the state. He stressed that without accurate population data, the government’s plans for education, health, and other community services would not be achievable.
He also highlighted the benefits of this census, noting that having accurate data ensures that citizens can benefit from government health, education, and development initiatives. He urged parents to support the program by ensuring their children are registered, so they can be included in future government programs and budgets.
Nma Alhaji Shehu, Director of the NPC, explained that involving stakeholders, including community leaders and parents, is essential to spreading awareness about the program’s importance.
“We are calling on stakeholders to be good representatives, and we ask parents to assist their communities in all aspects of national development. Those selected to carry out the census are dedicated and will be rewarded for their contributions once the project is completed,” Shehu added.
Hon. Isah Mohammed, Vice Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government, expressed support for the program, noting that the local government has provided accommodation for officials conducting the census at the secretariat in Minna.
He appealed to parents to ensure that any child who was not registered at birth is registered during this census. Mohammed emphasized that the local government will work to ensure that all stakeholders understand the importance of the census so that Chanchaga Local Government can achieve successful results.
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