NPC promises credible census, to deploy local content

National Population Commission (NPC), has disclosed plans to embrace digital innovations in the conduct of the next census in the year 2023.

Speaking with journalists after the tour of RLG/Adulawo Technology City, a technology device assembly firm in Ilesa, Osun State, by a team from NPC on Thursday, the Commission’s chairman on Information Communication Technology, Dr Clifford Zirra, also assured that the next census would be credible.

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Zirra said the visit was to enable NPC to identify collaboration and patronise a local company with the capacity to assist the commission to achieve its aim of a credible census.

Addressing journalists after the inspection, which had in attendance the Federal Commissioners of the NPC, Dr Zirra told newsmen that the facility tour is to ensure that the agency contracts the best hands to do the job.

Zirra added that the commission will ensure the partnership with competent Nigerian companies like RLG to encourage local content are used towards making the forthcoming National Census hitch-free and acceptable to all Nigerians.

“We are a pacesetter. We are now going to conduct a digitized census for the first time in the history of Nigeria and the history of Africa.

“We want to do something very acceptable and of a great standard. That is why we want to associate ourselves with people who can give us value, a value that would add to our work.

“We have a lot to do in terms of mobilisation, manpower and logistics to do the census, next year. That is why we are here to look at what they have.

“For now, we have what we need but we are discussing and by the time we reach the bridge, we will cross it over. We have started the discussion and we pray we get it on time.

“We will also ensure that in line with a presidential directive, we will ensure compliance with standards in making sure that local content is optimised to the best of standards.”

The team toured the various sections of the RLG Adulawo Technology City, Ilesa factory, including the assembly lines, testing centres and workshop sections where ICT gadgets are produced.

RLG Managing Director, Mr Tosin Ilesanmi, showcasing the devices done so far by the firm as well as the daily assembly capacity of the factory, assured the visiting team of RLG’s readiness to deliver world-class devices required to power the coming 2023 census.

Ilesanmi added that the factory is well equipped with both manual and automated assemblage lines that are capable of delivering world-class products and hand-held devices that will aid the success of the 2023 National Population Census.

He said over the years, the factory had successfully made products for the Federal Government through N-Power, FREE TV as well as StarTimes, and training over 20,000 Youths of Osun State, under the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme Technology (OYESTECH), among others.