The Ekiti State government has collaborated with the National Population Commission (NPC) to conduct a successful digital registration exercise for children aged zero to five years in the state, aiming to ensure proper documentation and enable the government to plan adequately and effectively for their future.
Addressing newsmen in Ado Ekiti over the weekend, the Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning, and Performance Management, Niyi Adebayo, stated that the adoption of digital birth registration would create a database for both the state and federal governments, facilitating proper planning and policy formulation.
He revealed that the exercise would ensure proper documentation and help the government plan adequately for the future of children.
Adebayo urged parents and guardians to prioritise the registration of their children, emphasising that a birth certificate is not only a vital legal document but also a requirement for obtaining international passports and enrolling in schools.
While highlighting the importance of accurate data for implementing developmental policies and ensuring that government resources are allocated appropriately, Adebayo assured residents that the digital registration process is simple, free, and accessible at designated centres in all local government areas of the state.
In her remarks, the State Director of the National Population Commission, Dr. Olufunke Olowookere, explained that the digital birth registration is a crucial step toward securing the rights of children.
She emphasised that registering a child from birth not only establishes their identity but also ensures their access to critical services such as healthcare, education, and social protection, among others.
She reiterated the importance of digital birth registration, highlighting its benefits: “connection to the National Identity Management Commission database and generation of the child’s National Identity Number, guaranteeing the child’s identity, nationality, and name, supporting child protection and anti-trafficking efforts, facilitating access to education and social services, among others.”
While calling on parents and guardians across the state to embrace the digital birth registration exercise, Dr Olowookere explained that the registration will continue through December 2024, with the target of registering over 156,000 children across the state.
She added that registered children would receive a digital birth certificate, which is recognised as a legal document for identification and future opportunities.
The State Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, reaffirmed the state government’s unwavering commitment to the exercise and emphasised that it is compulsory for every parent and guardian in the state to register their children.
Explaining that the registry would significantly improve the state’s population data, aid effective planning, and ensure equitable resource distribution, Olatunbosun urged parents and guardians to embrace the program, stressing its importance in securing a brighter future for the state’s younger generation.
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