From Suleiman Abubakar
The National Population Commission (NPC) has launched a three-day training program to equip volunteers with digital skills for the registration of Nigerian children under five years old.
This initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to enhance the well-being of young children through accurate data documentation.
Chairman of the NPC, Nasir Isa Kwarra, while inaugurating the training in Lafia for volunteers from Lafia, Doma, and Nasarawa Eggon, emphasized the importance of integrating global best practices into birth registration.
He noted that the exercise is crucial for securing the data of children between 0 to 5 years and ensuring their proper documentation.
Represented by the Commissioner of NPC in Benue State, Barrister Patricia Kupchi, Kwarra disclosed that over 140,000 children have not yet been registered.
The introduction of the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (ECRS) system will help address this gap and facilitate better planning for children's well-being.
He added that volunteers were selected based on merit to ensure the success of the initiative.
The NPC is conducting the exercise nationwide, collaborating with sister agencies such as the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA). These partnerships are designed to ensure the seamless execution of the registration process.
The Director of NIMC in Lafia, Dr. Ndi Awan, and the representative of NOA, Mr. Dalhatu Dalhatu, encouraged participants to take the training seriously and underscored the need for every Nigerian to possess a National Identification Number (NIN), which is free of charge.
Mrs. Priscilla Yohannah, NPC Director in Nasarawa State, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders, including NIMC, NOA, and other relevant organizations, for their support in making the exercise a success.
