The National Population Commission has registered 300,182 births from October till
date in the ongoing digital birth registration of children between 0-5 years across Sokoto State.

The NPC State Director, Malami Marafa-Gagi, disclosed this at a news conference organised by National Orientation Agency, United Nations Children Fund and NPC on Thursday in Sokoto.

Mr Marafa-Gagi said the coverage surpassed the initial target of 238,289, with 61,893 children more registered within the period.

He explained that the nationwide e-birth registration social mobilisation drive was aimed at ensuring that every child has access to education, healthcare and other essential services.

He added that “birth registration is the first legal acknowledgment of a child’s existence, essential for safeguarding their rights and privileges.”

The NOA Director in Sokoto State, Babangida Kurfi, underscored the importance of the exercise that would facilitate preserving right data for formal plans and other preparations on education, health and recreational facilities.

Mr Kurfi appealed to parents and community leaders to support the exercise by submitting their eligible children for registration.

He said NOA had mobilised its workers at all levels to ensure the success of the exercise, described as crucial for unlocking access to basic services such as education and healthcare, which are vital for a child’s development and future.

The Coordinator of the National Identity Management Agency, Musa Usman, said every child aged 0-5 years would receive a National Identification Number (NIN) upon face capturing and birth registration.

Mr Usman sought the state government’s support for the management of local government NIMC offices for smooth running of registration activities.

He said the digital registration would ensure the harmonisation of records and prevent discrepancies.

In his address, the District Head of Gagi in the Sokoto South Local Government Area, Sani Umar-Jabbi, stressed the need for community members to support the drive for adequate demographic planning.

Mr Umar-Jabbi said the increased population growth in the country needed to align with economic, health, education and other social planning needs.

He highlighted the dangers of improper birth control, poor social, economic empowerment planning which could result in food scarcity, low education standard, low income generation, increased crimes and other societal ills.

He assured traditional rulers’ support and urged the organisers to consider using the 87 district heads’ palaces across the states as registration centres to facilitate registration.

Earlier, the Secretary to the Sokoto State Government, Bello Sifawa, commended NPC, NOA, NIPC and UNICEF for the support.

Mr Sifawa, represented by Permanent Secretary on Political Affairs, Abdullahi Malami-Yabo, assured of maximum state government’s support to partner national and international agencies for the development of the state.

The event featured lectures from Islamic scholars and representatives of civil society organisations.

(NAN)