NOA, UNICEF worry over unregistered children in Kaduna rural communities

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) have expressed worry over increasing number of unregistered children in Kaduna rural communities.

The two agencies described the situation as unacceptable for national development and planning.

• 1,000 girls lack toilet facilities in Kaduna school
• Inside Kaduna school where students come with wrappers to sit on floors

Speaking at the launch of the Community Re-orientation and Grassroots Dialogue on an Increased Birth Registration in 30 local communities of three LGA’s, Kaduna State NOA Director, Zubairu Galadima Soba, said the event was in collaboration with the National Population Commission and UNICEF.

He said registration of birth for children from 0-5 years would take place in Zaria, Jema’a and Kaduna South local government areas.

In his remarks, UNICEF’s Child Protection Specialists, Dr Willie Mamah, said without birth certificates, there was no life for a child, adding that, “a birth certificate is a certification for life of a child which means a child without it is as good as one who doesn’t exist”.

He added that non- registration of children was injurious to development and tasked the media to help in educating parents on the importance of birth certificate registration.

Similarly, a National Population Commission Commissioner, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulmalik, said all the tiers of government must take the issue seriously because children are the future of the country.