NPC seeks Osun parents’ support for digital birth registration

The National Population Commission (NPC) in Osun State has called on parents and guardians in the state to cooperate with hundreds of its volunteers who have been sent out to carry out birth registration.

This charge was given by the state NPC director, Tinuola Adeboye, while speaking in Osogbo.

Adeboye disclosed that the commission has trained hundreds of volunteers to visit various local government areas and wards in the state to capture the information of babies from age zero to five, urging parents and caregivers to attend to them.

She said the ongoing electronic birth registration would capture the name, date, place, and time of birth of affected babies, adding that the data of the parents and guardians would also be obtained.

According to Adeboye, the ongoing digital birth registration is supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), noting that the registration, which commenced on August 1, 2024, would end on August 15.

She said volunteers would be visiting homes, worship centres, marketplaces, and capturing babies’ information, calling on parents to cooperate with them by providing information about the babies and themselves.

“The electronic birth registration is for children between the ages of zero and 18, but currently, we have trained and deployed our volunteers to various local government areas and wards to capture the information of babies from age zero to five. Parents whose children do not fall within this age bracket can visit any of our 117 registration centres scattered across the state to register them.

“Our volunteers have started visiting churches, mosques, homes, marketplaces, and other areas where they can find children since August 1st, and we will be doing this until August 15. These volunteers have been trained on how to capture children’s information. Anyone can visit our registration centre.

“We are partnering with NIN, and we are going to link the NIN of the parents to the e-birth registration of their babies. Our database is now stronger, and missing certificates will be reissued because we are now fully digital. With adequate registration, we will have reliable data that the government will use for policies and planning. The government won’t work on hearsay or assumptions; it will plan based on data. Electronic birth registration will also address issues of multiple registrations. You cannot have two certificates because of digital innovations. We will link it with the NIN of the parents. We are collaborating with UNICEF.

“We have 117 registration centres scattered all over the local government areas and the state office for capturing those who may want to visit us. Volunteers will be going out. We expect parents and caregivers in Osun to cooperate with us. They will take photographs of the babies. They are not fraudsters or scammers. Please, release the information to them. This information includes the surname, middle name, and last name of the child. Parents should be sure of the information they are giving to volunteers because it will be permanent. The birth order and age of parents will also be required. When parents are late, we have to approach someone who knows information about the child for the registration,” Adeboye said.