The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is helping Nigeria with electronic registration of births to track its population growth figures
Over one hundred and forty-seven thousand births have so far been recorded, with the ambition of meeting the two hundred and seventeen thousand, one hundred and fifty seven mark by December 2024.
The project is in collaboration with the National Population Commission and the National Orientation Agency
Records of births have been an issue in some parts of northern Nigeria, but authorities are now using technology to solve the problem.
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Wife of the Zamfara State Governor Hurriya Lawal, who perfomed the Flag-Off of the Electronic Birth Registration, said the project will help in preparing and implementing child care programmes
The chief of the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Sokoto Field Office, Michael Juma and the Manager of Child Protection UNICEF Abuja Office, Muna Aika, highlighted opportunities that will open up for children and advised community leaders to mobilize parents to ensure their children get their identity secured from birth
To guarantee the programme succeeds, the National Population Commission and the National Orientation Agency are stepping up sensitization across the state
The Council of Chiefs in Zamfara State, chaired by the Emir of Anka, Attahiru Ahmad, expressed their full support for the exercise