FIRST LADY LAUNCHES NEW BIRTH CERTIFICATE TO BOOST CIVIL REGISTRATION IN NIGERIA

In her determined efforts to enhance birth registration in Nigeria, First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, through her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), in partnership with the National Population Commission (NPC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) launched the UNICEF/RHI Commemorative Birth Certificate for 2024.

The RHI has committed to supporting the current administration’s efforts to accelerate universal free birth registration and certification, especially for newborns, using the national digital Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (e-CRVS) in all health facilities and communities.

Speaking at the ceremony held at Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, Senator Tinubu stressed the critical importance of birth registration for Nigerian children.

She explained that the launch of the UNICEF/RHI Commemorative Birth Certificate for 2024 is a significant step towards ensuring that every Nigerian child is counted, considered, and cared for, as the country strives to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 16.9.2 – “a legal identity for all, including birth registration”.

Mrs. Tinubu highlighted that birth registration serves as a child’s legal proof of identity, essential for accessing government services such as healthcare and education.

She said without a birth certificate, children face significant disadvantages, including difficulties in proving their age and potential exclusion from vital social amenities.

Mrs. Tinubu encouraged all parents to register the birth of their children and obtain authentic birth certificates recognized by the government, emphasizing that without a birth certificate, children may miss out on government provisions and face disadvantages.

The First Lady further stressed the importance of a robust and efficient civil registration system for the country’s development and governance.

According to her, every live birth should be recorded to form the basis for policy, planning, and service delivery that meets the needs of all Nigerians.

The First Lady explained that the commemorative birth certificate will run from 29th August to 31st December, 2024.

“I also congratulate the National Population Commission, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Identity Management Commission and Barnksforte Technologies Limited, the private sector partner, for their bold initiative to ensure that a national identification number is issued to every child at birth, starting in 2024. That is why the Renewed Hope Initiative is launching the 2024 commemorative birth certificate to support the government’s birth registration drive.

This particular certificate will be issued by the National Population Commission for the birth from 29th of August, 2024, like the ones we just saw today, to 31st December, 2024 with the RHI logo.”

Speaking at the launch, President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, described the initiative as a clarion call for collective action, urging all Nigerians to support what he called a vital cause.

The Senate President commended Mrs. Tinubu for her leadership and dedication to improving the welfare of children in Nigeria.

Represented by the Senate Committee Chairman on National Population and National Identity, Sen. Abdul Ningi, Akpabio noted that birth registration is the first official acknowledgment of a child’s existence by the state, granting them access to essential services such as education and healthcare.

He called on all stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society, and community leaders, to unite to make the initiative successful.

Chairman of National Population Commission, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, stated that the commemorative event represents a significant step forward in the government’s efforts to offer Nigerian children their first foundational identity, which will grant them access to essential government services such as education and healthcare.

‘This launch is a pivotal moment in our journey to enhancing Nigeria's civil registration and vital statistics system. ‘We are here to reaffirm our dedication to ensuring that every child born in Nigeria is recognized from birth.

‘This is a fundamental right that lays the groundwork for their access to healthcare, education, and protection under the law. Our discussions today will center on the partnerships and strategies necessary to drive this goal, particularly through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).

‘The National Population Commission, as the custodian of these vital records, bears the responsibility of transforming our CRVS systems into models of accuracy, accessibility, and inclusiveness.

‘This is indeed a great opportunity to scale up our mandate to ensure that every birth, every death, and every significant life event is recorded accurately and promptly, forming the foundation upon which legal identity is established.

NPC Chairman, however, expressed deep appreciation to the First Lady of Nigeria for graciously accepting to champion and launch this Renewed Hope Initiative on Birth Registration.

The UNICEF Country Representative, Ms. Cristian Munduate appreciated the efforts of the Nigerian Government in ensuring that no birth goes unregistered, especially with the introduction of technological methods to ramp up the statistics.

“Nigeria has done a lot and now with the First Lady lending her voice and her initiative, I am sure we will achieve the desired mark”.

Munduate called for increased social mobilization and the involvement of traditional and religious leaders to boost birth registration rates. She praised the e-CRVS system for its real-time registration capabilities and urged collective action from all sectors to ensure every child receives the identity they deserve.

The Chief Child Protection UNICEF Nigeria, Dr. Ibrahim Sessay, underscored the significance of the launch in closing existing gaps in birth registration and promoting data-driven development plans for children in Nigeria.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director of Barnksforte Technologies Limited, the technical partner to the National Population Commission, Adedayo Bankole, said the partnership seeks to provide Technological solutions to end users, capturing and verification of births in Nigeria, as before this, registrations have been carried out manually.

He stressed the vital role of establishing a foundational identity and ensuring the security of data for every child.

“Barnksforte Technologies Limited (BTL) is honoured to partner with the Renewed Hope Initiative, led by Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in collaboration with the National Population Commission (NPC) and UNICEF. “We want to help create a seamless, accessible, and accurate digital identity framework for all Nigerians which will enhance service delivery, reduce bottlenecks, and support efficient policymaking with real-time data.”

“We are proud to support this transformative journey towards a more inclusive and transparent civil registration system. Together, we are building the foundation for a secure and comprehensive identity framework for Nigeria’s future.

On his part, the Dein of Agbor HRM Dr. Benjamin Ikenchukwu, Keagborekuzi 1 noted the pivotal role women play in achieving success in all aspects of life. The Paramount ruler also urged the youth to be patient with the present administration.

Other traditional rulers present, including the Ooni of Ife, Emir of Shonga, Etsu Nupe and the Tor Tiv lent their voices to the cause saying the availability of birth data forms the basis for the country’s social security.

There was the symbolic electronic registration of children at the event conducted by the NPC Chairman, DG National Identity Management Commission and Barnksforte Technologies Limited, the private sector partner. Also present were the Wives of State Governors who are to cascade the drive to enhance birth registration in their various states.