The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has partnered with the National Population Commission (NPC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) to enhance birth registration across the country. This collaboration includes the launch of the UNICEF/RHI Commemorative Birth Certificate for 2024.
NPC Chairman, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, announced the initiative after a meeting with development partners at the First Lady’s office in Abuja. He highlighted that this commemorative event, scheduled for August 29, 2024, represents a significant step forward in the government’s efforts to provide Nigerian children with their first foundational identity.
“It is a global initiative that took place on August 10, 2024, but we are organizing this special commemorative event with the First Lady leading the charge,” said Kwarra. “This event will mark a full-force drive for birth registration, ensuring that Nigerian children receive their first identity and recognition, which will grant them access to essential government services such as education and healthcare.”
UNICEF’s Chief Child Protection Officer, Ibrahim Sesay, emphasized the importance of this launch in addressing the existing gaps in birth registration and promoting data-driven development plans for children in Nigeria. “The Renewed Hope Initiative, through the Office of the First Lady, is a platform we are leveraging to ensure that every child’s birth in Nigeria, starting from August 29th, receives accelerated birth registration nationwide,” Sesay stated.
Mr. Adedayo Bankole, Managing Director of Barnksforte Technologies Limited, the technical partner to the NPC, highlighted the digitization of the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (eCVRS) system. He underscored the importance of establishing a foundational identity for every child and ensuring data security. The system is designed to be interoperable with other identity agencies, such as the National Identity Management Commission, and provides seamless access to immunization records and other government social welfare services.
The Official Launch of the UNICEF/RHI Commemorative Birth Certificate to Birth Registration in Nigeria is set to take place on Thursday, August 29th, in Abuja.
