President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that Nigeria’s prosperity is guaranteed with the conduct of a reliable and dependable population and housing census in the country.
The president said this on Wednesday during the launch of the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System (e-CRVS), alongside the National Geospatial Data Repository and the National Coordination Committee on CRVS at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
The launch was realised through the collaboration of the National Population Commission (NPC), UNICEF, and Barnksforte Technologies Limited.
Tinubu, who said the system would help to improve service delivery, care and knowledge to Nigerians, added that it would assist federal agencies.
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He called on the National Population Commission (NPC) to deploy cutting edge technology while implementing e-CRVS.
“The commission will therefore be supported in the conduct of its next census….We are open for business and all possible partnerships that will redirect our progress….
“The prosperity of our nation is assured if we can do a reliable and dependable exercise.”
In her goodwill message, UNICEF’s Country Representative, Ms. Cristian Munduate, said President Tinubu’s commitment to enhancing civil registration data capturing, collation, processing, dissemination, and access was not just commendable but was a beacon of hope for the sustainable development and rights-based future of Nigeria.
She said UNICEF was cognizant of the impact of e-CRVS to be executed over the next seven years would have on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 16.9.2 – a legal identity for all, including birth registration.
She said: “A robust and efficient civil registration system is the cornerstone of development and governance. It ensures that every heartbeat, every breath, and every life event is not just recorded but recognized, forming the basis for policy, planning, and service delivery that meets the needs of all Nigerians.
“This is more than an administrative task; it is an affirmation of dignity and rights for every citizen, providing the foundation upon which societies can flourish.
“Our children, the heart of our present and future, must be guaranteed their rights from the onset. A well-functioning CRVS system safeguards these rights and ensures that no violation goes unnoticed. It allows us to protect, to serve, and to empower.
“UNICEF remains steadfast in its support of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s endeavor to build a sustainable civil registration and vital statistics system. We are committed to providing assistance in establishing the necessary requirements for the successful compilation and processing of vital data.
“We recognize the importance of integration and interoperability of the eCRVS system with other IT platforms within the government. To this end, we advocate for improved financial resources for civil registration at all levels of government, emphasizing the need for public financing to sustain and accelerate this crucial process.
“We also advocate for the transformation of health facilities and community outreach programs into vibrant registration points, which will further promote the registration of births and deaths – an essential step in recognizing and recording the tapestry of life in Nigeria.
“As we deploy this digital system, let us remain committed to the vision of a high-performing, inclusive, and rights-focused CRVS in Nigeria – a system that stands as a testament to the nation’s dedication to its people.”
In his opening remarks, the NPC Chairman, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, said the high-level event was to stress the commitment of the current government and leadership to strengthen civil registration data capturing, collation, processing, dissemination and timely access to vital statistics in the country.
He added that it was to accelerate the improved civil registration and vital statistics systems in Nigeria over a period of ten years, from 2023 to 2030 in a bid to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SD): 16.9.2 – legal identity for all, including birth registration.
The strategic partnership between NPC and UNICEF, complemented by the Public-Private Partnership with Barnksforte Technologies Limited, is set to overhaul the registration of vital events, transitioning Nigeria from a paper-based system to an internationally aligned digital framework.
The newly established CVS National Coordination Committee is tasked with steering the e-CRVS system, ensuring Nigeria’s capability to capture and leverage vital statistics.
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