The National Population Commission (NPC) has revealed that it now generates a National Identification Number (NIN) for each child during birth registration, which is linked to the mother’s details.
This, the commission said, would enhance the system’s efficiency and prevent duplicate registrations.
The commission emphasized the critical need for birth registration, stating that children without birth certificates are legally unrecognized in Nigeria, adding that the commission is leveraging digitization to curb double registration and ensure accurate documentation.
Assistant Director of Civil Registration at the NPC, Helen Ogohi, disclosed this during a sensitization campaign on birth registration held in Abuja.
The event was organized by the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) in collaboration with the NPC and UNICEF, under the theme “Enhancing Birth Registration in Nigeria: Leveraging the NCWS Structure.” She explained that birth registration is vital for establishing a child’s legal identity and nationality.
Ogohi noted that the NPC’s digitization efforts include the introduction of mobile devices for real-time birth data collection, particularly in remote areas.
“The NIN of the child will be generated, which is unique to that child, and the child’s registration will be tied to a specific mother,” she explained.
She said the NPC now collaborates with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to synchronize birth registration data with NIN records. This partnership aims to improve the integrity of the registration process and make it easier to verify children’s identities.
She stressed that without proper documentation, children cannot claim Nigerian citizenship or access essential services such as healthcare, education, and social benefits. She emphasized the lifelong benefits of birth registration, noting that it not only provides legal identity but also protects children from issues such as child labor, early marriage, and trafficking. She urged communities, healthcare workers, and local leaders to collaborate with the NPC to ensure that every Nigerian child is registered and legally recognized.
“If a child doesn’t have a birth certificate, legally that child is not recognized, and Nigeria does not acknowledge that child,” Ogohi stated.
Birth certificates are now mandatory for many services in Nigeria, including school admissions and visa applications. The NPC is actively raising awareness among mothers and communities about the importance of registering their children at birth.
Ogohi called on the NCWS to become ambassadors for birth registration, encouraging them to spread the word and ensure prompt registration of all children.
Additionally, she revealed that the NPC now operates over 400,000 registration centers nationwide but acknowledged the need for more efforts to ensure every child in Nigeria is captured in the system.
“A single registrar cannot serve about 200,000 people alone, which is why we need more registration centers and greater awareness among mothers,” she said.
On her part, the Child Protection Officer at UNICEF, Mona Aika, emphasized the vital role of NCWS in promoting birth registration. She explained that UNICEF is supporting the NPC in registering children under five without birth certificates, with ongoing registration drives across various local government areas in Nigeria.
“We are targeting children under five this year, including newborns. NPC, with support from UNICEF, is leading this work to ensure children in communities are registered. Birth registration is the right of every child, providing them with a legal identity,” she said.
Aika added that without registration, children may struggle to access essential services. She stressed the importance of accelerating efforts to register all children in Nigeria as part of the country’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
In her welcome address, the Acting National President of the NCWS, Geraldine Ita Etuk, emphasized the organization’s commitment to promoting birth registration across Nigeria. She acknowledged the Renewed Hope Initiative Project, launched by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, which seeks to enhance advocacy and social mobilization for birth registration.
Etuk called for greater efforts to raise awareness, improve access to registration centers, and build institutional capacity to ensure every child in Nigeria has a secure legal identity and access to services.
The President of NCWS Kaduna State chapter, Barrister Zena, also highlighted the challenges and efforts being made in birth registration, particularly in Kaduna State. She stressed the importance of community involvement and the role of local leaders in ensuring children are registered to benefit from government services.
UNICEF underscored that birth registration is a fundamental right for every child and crucial for accurate data collection, enabling governments to plan effectively for the future.