The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (FMWASD) has pledged stronger collaboration with the National Population Commission (NPC) to enhance birth registration, gender-focused data collection, and community engagement across Nigeria.

This was contained in a signed statement made available to the media by the Head, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Ahmed Lawan Danbazau in Abuja.

According to the statement, the Minister, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, made the commitment during a courtesy visit by an NPC delegation led by its Chairman, Dr. Aminu Yusuf, at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

The meeting highlighted the need for inclusive and reliable population data to inform policies that empower women, children, and families.

Hajiya Imaan emphasised the importance of addressing societal challenges through accurate population statistics. “These are the kind of issues we want to address together, ensuring that children are properly registered, whether at community level or in hospitals, and that we have the opportunity to study and understand our population dynamics,” she said. She also reaffirmed the ministry’s dedication to promoting gender equity, child protection, and family empowerment through robust data-driven decision-making.

Earlier, the Executive Chairman of the NPC, Dr. Aminu Yusuf, outlined areas of cooperation, including expanding birth registration coverage, particularly for the girl child. He stressed that birth registration provides every child with a legal identity, which is essential for accessing education, healthcare, and social protection services.

“The NPC remains committed to producing reliable and timely population data to guide evidence-based policymaking, equitable service delivery, and inclusive national planning,” Dr. Yusuf said, noting the agency’s role as custodian of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS). He also praised the ministry’s preparations for the 70th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), during which both agencies are expected to advance the rights of women and girls of reproductive age.

The partnership, he said, underscores a shared vision of leveraging data and collaboration to drive national development while ensuring that every child and woman is counted and empowered.