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From Chijioke Agwu, Abakaliki
Ahead of this year’s 2023 Population and Housing Census in Nigeria, the NPC Ebonyi State chapter has organised a one-day capacity-building workshop for journalists on effective reporting in preparation for the 2023 Population and Housing Census.
The capacity building workshop which took place at Osborne La Palm Resort, Abakaliki was attended by journalists from different media organisations.
The NPC Federal Commissioner in charge of Ebonyi State, Chief Darlington Okereke, while delivering his keynote address, stated that any organisation that strives to achieve success must constantly convey information to its stakeholders of which the media is very important in order to secure their cooperation and support.
“For a people-oriented organisation such as the National Population Commission, constant and effective engagement with the media is a crucial first step. It must take in the attainment of its constitutional mandate of generating data for national planning.”
According to him, preparations are in top gear for the successful implementation of the census project across the country, adding that census is a national event and it is mandatory for every citizen to participate by presenting themselves to be counted.
He, therefore, called for the support of all stakeholders to deliver to the country credible and reliable data for sustainable development planning.
Earlier in her remarks, the state Director NPC Ebonyi State, Julia Nneka, noted that in a bid to achieve maximum success in the 2023 population and Housing Census, it was imperative for the commission to re-strategise in order to properly educate and enlighten Nigerians on the need to support the successful conduct of the 2023 census.
She stated that the commission has deemed it fit to collaborate with Journalists for the effective delivery of their mandate to ensure a successful 2023 Population and Housing Census.
“The aim of this one-day state-level capacity-building workshop is to improve the quantity and quality of media contents on the 2023 Population and Housing Census and the specific objectives which amongst other things, are to strengthen journalists understanding and application of basic concepts in census taking; to neutralise negative prejudices, misperceptions and misrepresentation on the census exercise among sections of the Nigerian media and to update journalists on the status of preparatory activities for the 2023 census,” she further explained.
While making her presentations on “How to generate Media Contents on the 2023 Population and Housing Census”, the HOD PAD, Mrs Nwachukwu NC urged journalists to use their various editorial contents positively to ensure the success of the Census because of its role and significance in the national planning.
