Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday launched the electronic registration of newborns and digital registration of children aged 0 to 12 months, describing the initiative as a vital tool for accurate, real-time data and effective governance.

Speaking at the event, Sanwo-Olu said the launch of the E-Birth Registration Process marked a significant milestone in the state’s digital transformation efforts.

“This initiative, rolled out by the National Population Commission (NPC), allows for the digital registration of children aged 0 to 12 months, automatically assigning them a National Identification Number (NIN),” he said.

According to the governor, the programme is part of a collaborative effort between the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to modernize the manual birth registration system into a streamlined electronic civil registration and vital statistics (ECRVS) and NIN enrolment system. The project, he said, began in October and will run for six months.

Sanwo-Olu noted that the new system would be implemented across all local government areas and local council development areas in Lagos, ensuring every child in the state has a legal identity from birth.

“The socio-economic benefits of this initiative are immense. By providing children with a legal identity at birth, we enhance their access to education, healthcare, and social services, ensuring that no child is left behind. It also equips government with accurate, real-time data crucial for planning in maternal and child health, education, and community development,” he said.

He described the initiative as an example of how digital innovation can revolutionize service delivery, strengthen social inclusion, and support effective economic planning.

“This effort aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.9, which advocates for legal identity for all. It also demonstrates the strength of partnerships between the Federal Government through the NPC, Lagos State Government, UNICEF, and local registration centers,” Sanwo-Olu added.

The governor urged parents to embrace the initiative and ensure their children are registered, stressing the need for awareness, accessibility of registration centers, and vigilance against fraudulent registrations.

“As we celebrate this milestone, we must ensure every child in Lagos State secures a legal identity and the opportunities that come with it,” he said.

In addition to the digital registration project, Sanwo-Olu also inaugurated several infrastructure projects under the supervision of Muibi Alade Folawiyo. These include the revamped Secretariat at Zappas featuring an administrative building named after the governor, the Hon. R.F. Balogun Legislative Building, a 500-seater event hall, 56 ensuite offices, the F.O.K. Sanya Chapel, and the Alhaja Risikat Ogunbami-Abisogun Mosque.

According to him, the modernized Secretariat will serve as a hub for governance, entrepreneurship, and community development while enhancing internally generated revenue for the state.