The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), has partnered with the National Population Commission (NPC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to further ramp up birth registration in the country with the launch of the UNICEF/RHI Commemorative Birth Certificate for the year 2024.
NPC Chairman, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, who disclosed this after leading development partners to the office of the First Lady in Abuja, said the commemorative event, scheduled for August 29, 2024, will mark a major leap in the government’s effort to offer Nigerian children their first foundational identity.
“It is a global thing, and it took place on August 10, 2024, but we are having this as a special commemorative event with the First Lady championing this drive. We had a fruitful chat with her, and I believe that we have a great event ahead of us that will mark the full-force drive of birth registration to give Nigerian children their first foundational identity and recognition as our children, granting them access to government services, especially education and health.”
Chief Child Protection Officer, UNICEF, Ibrahim Sesay, who was part of the visit, described the launch as important for closing the existing gaps in birth registration and promoting a data-driven development plan for children in the country.
“What is critical is that we have been falling short in terms of reaching that obligation. So, the Office of the First Lady, through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), is a platform that we are now using to ensure that every child’s birth in Nigeria, starting on the 29th of August, gets accelerated birth registration in all parts of the federation.”
The official launch of the UNICEF/RHI Commemorative Birth Certificate for Birth Registration in Nigeria will be held on Thursday, August 29, in Abuja.
