UNICEF, NYSC, NPC partner on digitalised birth registration in Nigeria

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), National Population Commission (NPC), and UNICEF on Wednesday announced a new partnership aimed at enhancing birth registration in Nigeria. 

A statement by UNICEF said the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) among the three parties would solidify the commitment of their organisations to collaborate and support the digitalised birth registration process in 22 states and Abuja.

“This partnership aims to provide a robust framework within which the parties can implement a comprehensive and efficient digitalised birth registration process across Nigeria,” the statement reads.

“By leveraging their existing resources and facilities, the NYSC, NPC and UNICEF intend to benefit at least 12 million under-5 eligible children who will be registered as primary beneficiaries.

“Additionally, families, parents, caregivers, communities, households, state and local government areas (LGAs), and ward level administrators will be indirect beneficiaries of this collaboration.”

Speaking on the partnership, YD Ahmed, the director general of NYSC, said the deployment of 850 corps members as coordinators and supervisors would ensure effective monitoring and supervision of the birth registration process.

“Together, we will strive to achieve comprehensive data collection and availability, supporting increased birth registration coverage in our respective LGAs,” Ahmed said.

On his part, Nasir Isa Kwarra, chairman of NPC, said: “We are committed to supporting the recruitment of ad hoc birth registrars at the ward level and ensuring the availability of registration materials to coordinators and supervisors.

“By distributing protocols, checklists, FAQs, and informational materials, we aim to engage local government chairpersons, traditional and religious leaders and communities to promote the importance of birth registration.

“Together, we will generate and analyze digitalised birth registration data at the LGAs and wards, ultimately increasing birth registration coverage.”

Also speaking, Cristian Munduate, UNICEF representative in Nigeria, said: “By integrating birth registration into routine health service delivery, conducting the digitalised birth registration process, and increasing awareness through state and community-level campaigns, we aim to ensure that every child has access to and benefits from the essential health and birth registration interventions they deserve.”

The three partners are committed to promoting the importance of birth registration within the National Youth Corps programs, stimulating increased demand for birth registration services in health facilities and at the community level.

“The collaboration will also foster constructive engagement with local government chairpersons, traditional and religious leaders, leveraging their support to enhance the digitalised birth registration process.”