The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the National Population Commission (NPC) are collaborating with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and stakeholders from the 44 local government areas of Kano State to strengthen awareness and participation in birth registration at the grassroots level.
The initiative was announced on Friday by the Kano State Director of NOA, Nura Liman, during a one-day sensitization meeting on the implementation of social mobilization strategies for improved birth registration.
The event, held at the Gwale Local Government Islamic Centre Hall, brought together representatives of key agencies and community leaders.
According to a statement issued by the Kano Municipal Zonal Information Officer, Abdullahi Musa Gyadi-Gyadi, Liman commended UNICEF and the NPC for their partnership with NOA in organizing the meeting, which aims to enhance birth registration among children under one year of age.
He urged participants to contribute actively to educating communities on the importance of birth registration, describing it as vital for ensuring that every child’s birth is documented and their rights protected.
Speaking on the objectives of the campaign, the State NOA Head of Media and Communication, Hajiya Hauwa Adamu Garba, called on stakeholders to develop strategies to strengthen community awareness and participation.
She emphasized that timely birth registration facilitates access to essential social services and secures every Nigerian child’s right to identity and protection.
Also speaking, representatives of the NPC and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Mahmud Rabi’u and Umar Abdullahi, highlighted the critical role of early birth registration in effective planning, policy implementation, and child welfare development.
They commended traditional and community leaders from Municipal, Gwale, Dala, and Fagge Local Government Areas for their continued support in promoting child rights and development.
At the end of the meeting, participants formed groups based on their respective local governments to present strategies for effective social mobilization and community engagement in the birth registration campaign.
