3 weeks ago
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The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has emphasised that a robust and efficient civil registration system is pivotal to national development and governance.
Sen. Tinubu stated this at the official Launch of the 2024 UNICEF/RHI Commemorative Birth Certificate at the State House in Abuja.
The first lady, in a statement by her media aide, Busola Kukoyi, noted that the renewed drive for the registration of every life birth will help the nation achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 16.
“It is important to note that a robust and efficient civil registration system is pivotal to our development and governance. This ensures that every life birth is recorded, and forms the basis for policy, planning, and service delivery that meets the needs of all Nigerians. This is more than an administrative task; it provides the foundation for our social security,” she said.
Mrs Tinubu highlighted the benefits accruable to any society that prioritises birth registration which includes proper and adequate planning by government.
“Our children, the treasure of our nation, should be guaranteed their rights and privileges from the onset.
A well-functioning civil registration and vital statistics safeguards these rights and ensures that no violation goes unnoticed. To all parents, birth registration is very vital. It is the child’s legal proof of identity as a Nigerian, without which children will not be fully recognised by the Government.
“They could miss out on government’s provision of healthcare, education and other social amenities. Without a birth certificate, children will be unable to prove their age and this puts them at a great disadvantage. I therefore encourage all parents to register the birth of their children and obtain authentic birth certificates recognised by the government,” she added.
The President’s wife further explained that the commemorative birth certificate will run from 29th August to 31st December, 2024.
She congratulated the National Population Commission, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Identity Management Commission and Barnksforte Technologies Limited, the private sector partner, for their bold initiative to ensure that a national identification number is issued to every child at birth, starting in 2024.
“That is why the Renewed Hope Initiative is launching the 2024 commemorative birth certificate to support the government’s birth registration drive.
“This particular certificate will be issued by the National Population Commission for the birth from 29th of August, 2024, like the ones we just saw today, to 31st December, 2024 with the RHI logo,” she added.
Speaking at the ceremony, Managing Director of Barnksforte Technologies Limited, the technical partner to the National Population Commission, Adebayo Bankole, said the partnership seeks to provide the technological solutions to end users, capturing and verification of Births in Nigeria, as prior to this, registrations have been carried out manually.
He stressed the vital role of establishing a foundational identity and ensuring the security of data for every child.
The UNICEF Country Representative, Ms Christian Munduate appreciated the efforts of the Nigerian Government in ensuring that no birth goes unregistered, especially with the introduction of technological methods to ramp up the statistics.
“Nigeria has done a lot and now with the First Lady lending her voice and her initiative, I am sure we will achieve the desired mark,” Munduate said.
For his part, the Dein of Agbor, HRM Dr Benjamin Keagborekuzi noted the pivotal role women play in achieving success in all aspects of life.
The Paramount ruler also urged youths to be patient with the present administration.
Other traditional rulers present at the event included the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; Emir of Shonga, HRH Dr. Haliru Yayaha; Etsu Nupe, HRH Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, and the Tor Tiv, HRH James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse who lent their voices to the cause, saying the availability of birth data forms the basis for the country’s social security.
There was the symbolic electronic registration of children at the event conducted by the NPC Chairman, the DG National Identity Management Commission and Barnksforte Technologies Limited, the private sector partner.
Also present were wives of state governors who were asked to cascade the drive to enhance birth registration to their various states.
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