Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has emphasised that a robust and efficient civil registration system is pivotal to National Development and Governance.
She stated this on Thursday during the official Launch of the 2024 UNICEF/RHI Commemorative Birth Certificate at the State House in Abuja.
Senator Tinubu noted that the renewed drive for the registration of every life birth will help the nation achieve Sustainable Development Goal 16.
The First Lady explained that the commemorative birth certificate will run from 29th August to 31st December, 2024.
“It is important to note that a robust and efficient civil registration system is pivotal to our development and governance. This ensures that every live birth is recorded, and forms the basis for policy, planning, and service delivery that meets the needs of all Nigerians.
“This is more than an administrative task; it provides the foundation for our social security.”
She highlighted the benefits accruable to any society which prioritises birth registration which includes proper and adequate planning by the government.
“Our children, the treasure of our nation, should be guaranteed their rights and privileges from the onset. A well-functioning civil registration and vital statistics safeguard these rights and ensure that no violation goes unnoticed.
“To all parents, birth registration is very vital. It is the child’s legal proof of identity, as a Nigerian, without which children will not be fully recognised by the Government. They could miss out on government’s provision of healthcare, education and other social amenities.
“Without a birth certificate, children will be unable to prove their age and this puts them at a great disadvantage. I therefore encourage all parents to register the birth of their children and obtain authentic birth certificates recognised by the government”.
“That is why, the Renewed Hope Initiative is launching the 2024 Commemorative Birth Certificate to support the Government’s Birth Registration Drive. The National Population Commission will issue this particular certificate for all births from 29th August 2024 to 31st December 2024 with the RHI logo”.
The UNICEF Country Representative, Ms Christian Munduate, appreciated the efforts of the Nigerian Government in ensuring that no birth goes unregistered, especially with the introduction of technological methods to ramp up the statistics.
There was the symbolic electronic registration of children at the event.
Also present were the wives of state governors who were to cascade the drive to enhance birth registration in their various states
