The Women Affairs Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has engaged traditional leaders to mobilise residents for the registration of children aged zero to five years.

The mandate secretary, Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, disclosed this on Monday during a social mobilisation exercise at the Palace of the Sapeyi of Garki, Alhaji Usman Nga-Kupi, in the Abuja Municipal Area Council.

Ms Benjamins-Laniyi said the exercise aimed to ensure that all children within the age bracket were registered and issued birth certificates as a legal means of identification.

According to her, the initiative is designed to ensure that no child is left behind in efforts to guarantee every child’s protection and rights.

She explained that the mobilisation was being implemented with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the National Population Commission (NPC) and the National Orientation Agency.

Other partners include the National Identity Management Commission, FCT Primary Healthcare Board, FCT Area Council Secretariats, and the Association of Local Government Employees of Nigeria.

She added that the birth registration campaign was being coordinated nationwide by the first lady, Oluremi Tinubu.

The mandate secretary emphasised that the mobilisation began on March 28 in the Abaji Area Council and had been extended to the remaining area councils in the FCT.

She said the secretariat and its partners had received the support and cooperation of traditional rulers across the 17 chiefdoms in the FCT.

“Through this partnership, we have taken the message of birth registration into palaces, homes, and communities across the FCT.

“Together, under the watch of our royal fathers, we are restoring the dignity of our children by ensuring that every child is seen, counted, registered, and protected.

“When a child is registered, the child is recognised; and when a child is recognised, the child can thrive,” she said.

The director of child development in the secretariat, Idris Attah, said the mobilisation was aimed at scaling up birth registration across all communities in the FCT.

Mr Attah added that the initiative would ensure the immediate issuance of digital birth certificates for children aged zero to one year, as well as those aged one to five years.

He said that registration was free for all children under five in the FCT.

Charles Awuna, UNICEF Child Protection Officer, said the exercise would ensure that every child in the FCT had a legal identity.

According to Mr Awuna, without a birth certificate, a child is not officially recognised as a member of the community or a citizen of the country.

“This aligns with the Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, and underscores our partnership with the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat to ensure all children are captured in the population database,” he said.

Also, the NPC director in the FCT, Sulaiman Gada, said that the territory had lagged behind in birth registration for children under five and commended the FCTA for its efforts.

Mr Gada stressed the need to leverage traditional institutions to ensure that every child was reached, registered, and issued a birth certificate.

He also advised caregivers not to laminate birth certificates to prevent data loss during digital processing but to preserve the documents properly.

In his remarks, the Sapeyi of Garki, Usman Nga-Kupi, welcomed the initiative and pledged to mobilise ward, village, and district heads to ensure full compliance within his domain.

(NAN)