By Suleiman Abubakar Rimi Uku Lafia
In a landmark step toward ending identity exclusion and securing fundamental rights for Nigerian children, Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, has officially launched the mass distribution of 28,715 birth certificates across the country.
The flag-off ceremony, held at the Government House Council Chamber in Lafia, marked the beginning of a nationwide campaign aimed at eradicating the phenomenon of "ghost children" , unregistered minors who lack legal recognition and access to essential services.
“A birth certificate is not just a piece of paper. It is a child’s passport to education, healthcare, protection, and identity,” Governor Sule declared as he presented the first symbolic certificate. “Denying a child this right is denying their humanity. Today, we say: never again.”
The ambitious initiative is a product of a strategic partnership between the National Population Commission (NPC), the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), and UNICEF, which is providing vital technical and financial support.
A National Model from Nasarawa
While hosted in Nasarawa, the Governor made it clear that the programme is a national initiative, not limited by geography.
“This is not just a Nasarawa project. It is a Nigerian mission,” Governor Sule emphasized. “With ALGON, we guarantee grassroots access; with UNICEF, we adhere to global standards; and with NPC, we integrate identity into national planning.”
The Governor praised the tripartite collaboration as a model for effective governance, combining local delivery, national coordination, and international best practices to achieve a shared objective — universal birth registration.
Tackling Legal Limbo and Protecting Futures
Millions of Nigerian children remain unregistered, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation, unable to access basic services, and invisible in national planning. The Governor described this effort as Phase One in a broader campaign to change that narrative.
The project is designed to:
Ensure legal identity for every child,
Improve access to education and healthcare,
Enhance national planning and data systems,
Promote dignity and inclusion across all communities.
Governor Sule called on parents, traditional leaders, civil society, and government officials to make birth registration a national priority, noting that the absence of documentation poses long-term risks to Nigeria’s human capital development.
UNICEF, ALGON, NPC Laud State Commitment
Representatives of UNICEF, ALGON, and NPC at the event commended Governor Sule’s proactive leadership and reaffirmed their commitment to the project's success.
The distribution of 28,715 certificates marks the beginning of a long-term, multi-phase strategy, with the goal of achieving universal birth registration across Nigeria.
