The National Population Commission (NPC) has commenced the free birth registration for children between ages zero and five in Delta State.
Its Federal Commissioner, Mrs. Blessyn Brume-Ataguba, who spoke, yesterday, in Asaba, Delta capital, urged parents to support the programme by making children in that category available for the exercise.
At the inauguration of the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics programme, with the theme: ‘Strengthening the Linkage between Registration and Vital Statistics to Legal Identity Systems, through Digitalisation for Enhanced Inclusion.’
Mrs. Brume-Ataguba said the purpose of the media engagement was to increase public awareness on the importance of timely registration of vital events, particularly births and deaths in a functioning civil registration system.
She noted that the exercise was in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, aimed at providing effective leadership to strengthen civil registration and vital statistics systems in the country.
Her words, “This event marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to ensure that every Nigerian is counted, and included in our national framework. Registration is the only access to establish and protect identity, citizenship and property rights.”
She stressed the importance of the CRVS process, and urged residents to cooperate with NPC personnel and Adhoc staff in their localities.
NPC State Director, Mr. Patrick Lotobi, observed the commission had perfected plans to reach all parts of the state, including the riverine and difficult to reach areas of the state.
According to him, “With Birth Registration, census figures can be updated and if well taken, census exercise will just be periodical, so to say.”
The State NPC ICT Lead, Mr Jeremiah Erumebe said over two thousand personnel have been trained on birth and death registration and interface with communities for the exercise.