KADUNA- The National Orientation Agency (NOA), Kaduna State Directorate, has on Thursday urged parents to embrace electronic birth registration of their children in the state.
The State Director of NOA in Kaduna, Alhaji Hamisu Abubakar-Mayere, made the call while addressing a press conference on the electronic birth registration exercise by the National Population Commission (NPC).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) repots that the e-birth registration by NPC is currently ongoing across the states.
Abubakar-Mayere said the briefing was a clarion call to all parents in the state to take their children from 0-5 years to the nearest registration centre to be registered.
He said: “There are 149 registration centres across the state and 1,739 ad-hoc registrars on ground provided by the NPC across the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State.
“The NOA in collaboration with the NPC, supported by UNICEF are strong partners who have been working closely over the years.
“This collaborative effort has yielded positive results, particularly in the area of community mobilisation towards ensuring successful birth registration in the state.”
According to him, birth registration is the first and perhaps the most important means of identification of all and sundry.
Abubakar-Mayere explained that without certification of birth, it simply meant that one seizes to exist officially.
“All other means of identification known to mankind for example; drivers license, international passport, identity card among others are secondary to birth certification,” he said.
The state director emphasised that birth registration assists governments in calculating accurate population statistics and sustainably planning for health, education, and other services.
Without a birth certificate, he said, many children may not get routine vaccines and other healthcare services.
“They may be unable to attend school or register for examination. These few examples attest to how important birth registration is for national growth and development.
“The objectives of the press briefing is to increase awareness on the importance of birth registration among Nigerian citizens.
“It also seeks to mobilise birth registration teams across the 23 LGAs of Kaduna state on efficient birth registration processes,” he noted.
He equally said it was to mobilise community members to actively participate in the birth registration campaign and to establish a monitoring plan to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of the birth registration process.
Speaking further, Abubakar-Mayere said the agency had deployed mobilisation officers in LGAs, wards and communities to create awareness on the need for the electronic birth registration.
He said some of the key mobilisation messages the NOA would implore include; “Please register your child’s birth today to ensure they have access to education, healthcare, and other essential services.
“Birth registration is free and quick at your nearest registration centre or during our mobile outreach drives. Let’s work together to give every child the best start in life.”
The state director assured that community leaders, health workers, and teachers were there to help in understanding and completing the birth registration process.
“Visit your nearest registration centre or join our mobile outreach drives to register your child for free. Together, we can ensure every child in our community is registered.
“Did you know that birth registration and obtaining a National Identification Number (NIN) for your child are free? During this drive, every child aged 0-5 years will receive a NIN upon face capturing and birth registration. Don’t miss this opportunity.
“Make sure every child in our community is registered and has access to vital services. Birth registration is free and simple. Bring supporting documents like the immunisation card or birth certificate to your nearest registration centre or mobile outreach drive.
“All services are free during this period. Let’s secure a bright future for our children,” he advised.
NAN reports that other stakeholders at the briefing, include, traditional and religious leaders, who restated commitment towards escalating the importance of the e-birth registration. (NAN)
