The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through its Women Affairs Secretariat, has initiated a partnership with traditional leaders to encourage residents to register all children between the ages of zero and five years. This move is part of an effort to guarantee legal identification for every child.
Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, the Mandate Secretary for the Women Affairs Secretariat, announced this on Monday during a community outreach event held at the palace of the Sapeyi of Garki, Alhaji Usman Nga-Kupi, within the Abuja Municipal Area Council. She stated that the primary objective of this exercise is to ensure that all children in the specified age group are officially registered and receive birth certificates.
Benjamins-Laniyi explained that the initiative is designed to ensure that no child is overlooked in the ongoing efforts to protect and uphold the rights of every child. This vital registration process is being carried out with the support of various organisations and agencies.
The program benefits from the collaboration of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the National Population Commission (NPC), and the National Orientation Agency. Additionally, other key partners include the National Identity Management Commission, the FCT Primary Healthcare Board, the FCT Area Council Secretariats, and the Association of Local Government Employees of Nigeria, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
She further highlighted that the nationwide campaign for birth registration is being coordinated under the auspices of the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu.
The mandate secretary noted that the birth registration campaign commenced on March 28 in the Abaji Area Council and has since been extended to all other area councils within the FCT. She expressed gratitude for the positive reception and cooperation received from traditional rulers across the 17 chiefdoms in the FCT.
Dr. Idris Attah, the Director of Child Development at the secretariat, shared that the current mobilisation efforts are focused on increasing birth registration rates in all communities throughout the FCT.
Mr. Charles Awuna, a UNICEF Child Protection Officer, emphasized that the exercise is crucial for ensuring that every child in the FCT obtains a legal identity. He pointed out that a child without a birth certificate is not officially recognized within their community or as a citizen of the nation.
Furthermore, Alhaji Sulaiman Gada, the NPC Director for the FCT, acknowledged that the territory has faced challenges in achieving high birth registration figures for children under five. He commended the FCTA for its proactive measures to address this issue.
Gada underscored the importance of leveraging traditional structures to ensure that every child is reached and successfully registered. He also advised parents and guardians to safeguard their children's birth certificates carefully, advising against laminating them to prevent potential data loss during digital processing.
Responding to the initiative, the Sapeyi of Garki, Alhaji Usman Nga-Kupi, welcomed the FCTA's efforts and pledged his full support. He committed to mobilizing ward, village, and district heads within his jurisdiction to ensure widespread participation and compliance with the birth registration drive. (NAN)
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