NPC offers data to support NEDC’s effort to reduce out-of-school children

The National Population Commission (NPC) has offered to provide data support to the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to reduce out-of-school children from the street.

Chairman of NPC, Nasir Isa Kwarra, who made this offer on Monday in Abuja when he led his management team on a courtesy visit to the NEDC liaison office, noted further that the data will also help the commission assist the government in its efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the region.

Kwarra noted that the commission would also provide ongoing support to ensure that the NEDC can effectively utilize demographic data in its operations, adding that the NPC will further provide baseline data that can be used for monitoring and evaluating the impact of NEDC’s projects in the region.

The NPC boss further revealed that the commission will assist the NEDC in conducting household surveys and socio-economic assessments to gather data on living conditions, health, education, and more.

READ ALSO: First Lady partners NPC, UNICEF on birth registration, identity

He stated that the partnership will also address climate-related challenges with demographic insights and develop comprehensive geospatial maps of the North East that highlight population density, infrastructure, and resource distribution.

He noted that the commission will use mapping to identify priority areas for intervention, ensuring that NEDC’s efforts are targeted and efficient.

“NPC is charged with the responsibility of generating data for the country. Field works are currently going on especially in areas of birth registration,” he said.

“We are on top of our operation concerning census that is conducted every ten years. We have data of every building in the country that we can use to support any government agency.

“We undertake collection of data that will help agencies on environment and climate change. NEDC as an intervention agency we want to work closely with you.

“You can ask for specific area you want us to put in our questionnaire in respect to the region because we want investment in the youth demography due to the that lack of investment in youthful population.

“Alot of Almajiris are on the street, we can provide data to take them out of the street and be productive to the country and increase Nigeria’s GDP and income.”

The Managing Director of NEDC, Mohammed Alkali, who acknowledged the importance of population data noted that the NEDC value data, adding that the commission has a very good source of data.

“Population is very important. We in the North East Development Commission, we value data very well. We are very good source of data.  So, it is necessary that we cooperate to enhance synergy in doing our work so that we do not need to waste time looking for data elsewhere.”