The National Population Commission (NPC) has registered 300,182 births from October to date in the ongoing digital birth registration of children between 0-5 years across Sokoto State.
Malami Marafa-Gagi, the NPC state director disclosed this at a news conference organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and NPC on Thursday, November 21, 2024, in Sokoto.
Mr Marafa-Gagi said the coverage surpassed the initial target of 238,289, with 61,893 children more registered within the period.
He explained that the nationwide e-birth registration social mobilisation drive was aimed at ensuring that every child has access to education, healthcare and other essential services.
He added that birth registration is the first legal acknowledgement of a child’s existence which is essential for safeguarding their rights and privileges.
Babangida Kurfi, the NOA Director in Sokoto, underscored the importance of the exercise that would facilitate preserving the right data for formal plans and other preparations on education, health and recreational facilities.
Mr Kurfi appealed to parents and community leaders to support the exercise by submitting their eligible children for registration.
He said NOA had mobilised its workers at all levels to ensure the success of the exercise, described as crucial for unlocking access to basic services such as education and healthcare, which are vital for a child’s development and future.
Musa Usman, the coordinator of the National Identify Management Agency (NIMC), said every child aged 0-5 years would receive a National Identification Number (NIN) upon face capturing and birth registration.
Mr Usman sought the state government’s support for the management of local government NIMC offices for the smooth running of registration activities.
He said the digital registration would ensure the harmonisation of records and prevent discrepancies.
In his address, Sani Umar-Jabbi, the district head of Gagi in Sokoto South Local Government Area, stressed the need for community members to support the drive for adequate demographic planning.
Mr Umar-Jabbi said the increased population growth in the country needed to align with economic, health, education and other social planning needs.
He highlighted the dangers of improper birth control, a poor social, the economic empowerment planning which could result in food scarcity, low education standards, low income generation, increased crimes and other societal ills.
He assured traditional rulers’ support and urged the organisers to consider using the 87 district heads’ palaces across the states as registration centres to facilitate registration.
Earlier, the Secretary to the Sokoto State Government, Bello Sifawa, had commended NPC, NOA, NIPC and UNICEF for their support.
Mr Sifawa, who was represented by Permanent Secretary on Political Affairs, Abdullahi Malami-Yabo, assured maximum state government support to partner national and international agencies for the development of the state.
