Muhammad Jamil Abubakar
Gombe State Government, in partnership with UNICEF, has intensified efforts to ensure every child is registered at birth, focusing on digital systems that guarantee efficiency, inclusivity, and accuracy.
Speaking at the event, the Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, described birth registration as the first legal right of every child and a foundation for accessing health, education, and protection services.
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She explained that UNICEF supports Gombe State, local government councils, and ward-level structures to expand digital registration using child registration devices.
She said So far, 114 focal persons have been trained and deployed across the state’s 114 wards to ensure children are registered at birth, with data transmitted directly to the federal level for timely processing of certificates.
The initiative also links with community workers, including traditional birth attendants, healthcare staff, and grassroots groups such as Mama 2 Mama and Fathers for Good Health, to mobilise families for early registration.
In her remarks, Deputy ALGON Chairperson and Chairlady of Shongom Local Government, Fatima Binta Bello, who represented ALGON Chairman Barrister Sani Haruna, said the program is a critical step in strengthening Nigeria’s Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system by integrating birth registration with the National Identification Number (NIN).
She stressed that a child without a birth certificate is “invisible to the state, vulnerable to exploitation, and excluded from opportunities,” adding that strong collaboration among stakeholders is essential for success.
The Gombe State Director of the National Population Commission (NPC), Aliyu Usman, noted that the NPC has fully digitalised the CRVS system in Nigeria, streamlining processes to ensure greater efficiency and coverage.
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He emphasised the Commission’s commitment to ensuring no child is left unregistered and commended ALGON and UNICEF for their continued support.
Stakeholders at the event highlighted that birth registration is not only a tool for safeguarding child rights but also a critical resource for national planning and development.
They called on the media to step up public awareness and community mobilisation to ensure parents register their children immediately after birth.