Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, through her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), is collaborating with the National Population Commission (NPC) and UNICEF to launch an electronic birth registration system for newborns in the country. This initiative reflects the Tinubu administration’s commitment to strengthening civil registration and ensuring that every child born in Nigeria has a recognized legal identity.
NPC Chairman, Nasir Kwarra, announced the partnership after a pre-launch meeting with the First Lady in Abuja. He emphasized that the electronic registration, set to be officially launched on August 29, 2024, will be a significant step towards providing children with their first foundational identity, which is crucial for accessing government services such as education and healthcare.
UNICEF’s Chief of Child Protection in Nigeria, Ibrahim Sessay, highlighted the importance of birth registration, noting that with over 244,000 children born daily in Nigeria, it is essential for establishing legal identity and ensuring the provision of essential services. He pointed out that the birth certificate serves as proof of nationality and is vital for development planning, such as building schools and healthcare facilities tailored to the population’s needs.
The electronic birth registration system is expected to accelerate the registration process, ensuring that every child born in Nigeria from August 29 onwards is legally recognized, thereby enabling better access to services and safeguarding their rights as Nigerian citizens.