NOA, NPC, UNICEF begin registration of 395,382 births in Niger

National Orientation Agency (NOA) and National Population Commission (NPC), with support from United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has concluded plans to commence registration of 395,382 children age zero to fives years across the 25 local councils of Niger State.

The agencies disclosed this during the advocacy visit to Chanchaga Local Council headquarters on Monday.

State Director of NOA, Ibrahim Gbomgbo, stated that the agency’s collaboration with NPC was aimed at educating the people on the importance of birth registration; hence, the need for all and sundry to key into the exercise.

Gbomgbo, who emphasised the importance of the birth registration, described it as immeasurable.

“Our people were not aware of the important of birth registration. Therefore,we will leave no stone unturned to sensitise people to take the exercise seriously. Soon, declaration of age may be replaced with birth certificate,” Gbomgbo said.

Director of NPC in the state, Nma Shehu, revealed that birth certificate would protect the civic right of a child as well as that of individuals.
Shehu urged local council officials to intensify efforts towards ensuring the success of the exercise in their various councils.

Head of Vital Registration, NPC, Niger State, Aliyu Mahmood, explained that the state was far left behind in the birth registration, particularly Zone B and C.

Mahmood said there was huge gap between the registered and unregistered birth; hence, UNICEF supported NPC to enable it to conduct the exercise on digital platform, instead of the analog way.

“Over the years, we are faced with the challenge of manpower while conducting the birth registration; now, UNICEF has given us the right to recruit three ad hoc staff in each ward of the 25 local councils to assist in the exercise,” he stated.

He further explained that the birth registration would be conducted in three phases, and each phase would last for 10 days, after which 15 days would be set aside for the issuance of birth certificates by NPC.

Chairman, Chanchaga Local Council, Aminu Ladan, promised the agencies maximum support before, during and after the exercise.