By Foster Akpore
Ughelli North Local Government Area played host to a high-profile advocacy meeting on Thursday, October 10, 2024, as Honourable Mrs. Blessyn Brume-Ataguba, Honourable Federal Commissioner of the National Population Commission (NPC) for Delta State, paid a visit to the Chairman, Olorogun Jaro Movudu Egbo Ksc, and President Generals of various kingdoms within the local government area.
The meeting, held at the Exco Chambers of the Ughelli North Local Government (UNLG), focused on the ongoing Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) initiative, particularly emphasizing the importance of E-Birth Registration for children aged 0-5 years.
In her address, Hon. Mrs. Brume-Ataguba highlighted the significance of this year’s CRVS Day theme, “Strengthening the linkage of civil registration and vital statistics to legal identity systems through digitalization for enhanced inclusion.”
She outlined the NPC’s critical role in ensuring that every Nigerian, starting from birth, is registered and recognized within the country’s legal framework. According to her, the integration of CRVS systems with legal identity structures is vital for improving governance, planning, and service delivery. She underscored the importance of accurate data collection to inform policies on health, education, and other essential services, in alignment with the national Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
Hon. Brume-Ataguba also drew attention to the collaborative efforts between the NPC, UNICEF, and the office of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), to accelerate birth registration across Nigeria. She urged continued support from development partners and community stakeholders to ensure the success of the E-Birth Registration initiative, noting that “unless a person is registered, they do not exist in the eyes of the State.”
Olorogun Jaro Movudu Egbo, Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government, in his address, expressed gratitude for the NPC’s efforts to simplify and streamline the birth registration process through digital technology. He emphasized that accurate data collection during the first five years of a child’s life is foundational to their future success. The E-Birth Registration initiative, he said, would ensure that children in the local government have access to vital services such as healthcare and education.
Commending the work of the NPC and community volunteers, Olorogun Egbo urged all stakeholders to spread awareness of the initiative, emphasizing the need for every child to be counted and recognized. “By ensuring that every birth is registered, we lay the groundwork for a future where every child can thrive and contribute to our society,” he remarked.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from the local government council, traditional rulers, and President Generals of Orogun, Ughelli, Ogor, Evwreni, Agbarho, Agbara-Otor, and Ughwerun to support the E-Birth Registration initiative. They expressed their collective hope that the initiative would reach every corner of the local government area, ensuring that no child is left uncounted.