From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu’s pet project, Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), is partnering the National Population Commission (NPC) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to launch an electronic natal registration for children.
The NPC Chairman, Nasir Kwarra, during a pre-launch meeting with the first lady in Abuja, yesterday, said the registration marks the commitment of the Tinubu administration to strengthen civil registration of birth of newborns in the country.
”I came to discuss with the first lady the preparation for the launch of 2024 civil registration and birth certificate day and the drive for birth registration in Nigeria.
“We want to thank the first lady for agreeing to drive this with us through the RHI. Though birth registration is a global thing, we are officially launching it on August 29 with the first lady championing it.
“I believe this event will mark the full force drive of birth registration to give our children their first foundational identity and recognition, to enable our children to have access to government services, especially education and healthcare.
UNICEF Country Chief Child’s Protection, Ibrahim Sessay, said the drive was essential in Nigeria, which has over 244,000 children born daily.
“However, what really gives the child the legal identity to be a Nigerian, the proof of nationality is based upon the birth certificate after registration with NPC.
“This event is to ensure every child born in Nigeria has a registered birth with the NPC; having the legal responsibility to ensure their births are registered with a certificate to back it up.
“If you look at our development planning, if you don’t know where the children are, how can we build a school to really serve that particular population, including healthcare services. As they grow, they will have access to other services like insurance.”
He said the birth certificate would help UNICEF to know the number of children to serve.
“In terms of possession of landed properties, that certificate makes you a Nigerian. What is critical is that we have been falling short of reaching that obligation.
“The first lady, through the RHI, is a platform we are using to make sure every child’s birth in Nigeria starts from August 29, which is the day for the commencement of the RHI project to accelerate birth registration across the country.”