Census: NPC Federal Commissioner, Tadese reels out strategies on massive sensitization campaigns, digital birth registration exercise, others

*... Reiterates commitment to technology driven data collection*

The Federal Commissioner, representing Osun at the National Population Commission, NPC, Abuja, Hon Amidu Raheem Tadese has disclosed the readiness of the Commission to commence birth registration exercise across the nooks and crannies of the state in the next couple of days.

Tadese noted that the Commission is poised to ensure technology-driven data collection exercise in all its activities particularly on the proposed birth registration as the nation approaches next nationwide census exercise.

The former Osun Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy said the Commission would embark on a massive and comprehensive public enlightenment and sensitization exercise across the nooks and crannies of the state as part of efforts to reawaken the public consciousness towards their civic responsibilities.

This is even as the national secretariat of the Commission reiterated its resolve to all inclusive data collection, verification and analysis as panacea for all round growth and development in the country.

Speaking at a function in Osogbo in commemoration of the 2024 World Population Day, Tadese revealed the Commission's untiring efforts to effect change in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu adding that the Commission has concluded plans to recruit adhoc staff to complement its efforts in carrying out the digital birth registration  exercise throughout the state. 

According to him, the proposed technology driven and databased birth registration exercise being supported by a renowned international organization-UNICEF would further serve as a catalyse to strengthen the nation's database profile for accuracy, reliability and dependability.

Tadese noted that the newly recruited adhoc staff would begin training exercise for the purpose to which they were engaged anytime soon as everything had been put in place by the Commission for a smooth takeoff. 

He commended UNICEF for its continued supports, partnership and mutually beneficial collaboration all along noting that the innovation would set a standard for quality and timely data collection of minors in the country. 

Reading the prepared speech of the NPC Chairman, Hon. Nasir Isa kwarra, Tadese assured the readiness of the Commission to champion timely, quality, reliable, comprehensive, well-disaggregated and geo-referenced data collection in the country. 

He said the initiative would help to determine a better understanding of who the people that make up the numbers are, their verifiable locations, their circumstances/situations of existence/operations, their ages and needs among others.

The NPC Federal Commissioner assured that the upcoming population and housing census would be inclusive compliant and one that would leave no one behind throughout the nation regardless of socioeconomic status, ages, ethnic groups, locations or faiths.

He said the Commission has been working assiduously to redefine its strategies for effectiveness and efficiency as it approaches next census saying "we are poised to closing the data gaps that has been unintentional aiding inequality; allows the risk of groupthink, blind spots, biases that can impair decision making and performance, among others."

According to him, generating all inclusive data that are in compliance with the principles of inclusiveness by making them readily available to all - decision-makers, civil society organizations to businesses and citizens in order to shape policies, direct actions, advise on development options, and permit governments to be held to account, in a way that truly reflects the needs of everyone remained the Commission's watchword. 

"Nigeria need to strengthen its data generating institutions; adequately fund periodic data collection that is inclusive and comprehensive; and most importantly provide legislative Acts to guide timely conduct of censuses as well as promote the use of these data to guide policy decisions. 

"Some of the key messages to reflect on going forward, include –That inclusive and reliable data/evidence can enable ascertaining a peaceful and prosperous future, building of resilient systems and societies.

"Data collection and analysis tool should be deployed to facilitate good representation and use of data and we equally need to champion data collection that counts people in their diversity and in all their complexity and our data collection exercise, particularly for the upcoming Population and Housing Census would be inclusive compliant, leaving no one behind.

"To have the right information/evidence/data for measuring and predicting likely demographic shifts, we need to hold a census that will deploy modern technology to generate timely, reliable and acceptable data required for addressing the different needs of the various population groups and implement interventions that will create opportunities for progress and removes barriers that inhibits. This will guarantee individuals realizing their full potential", he added.