The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced a major increase in birth registration across Nigeria, revealing that 14 million children have been officially registered within the past two years.
UNICEF Country Representative to Nigeria, Ms Wafaa Abdelatef, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at the State House in Abuja.
She praised the First Lady for her leadership and commitment to child and family welfare, noting that the progress recorded in birth registration is unprecedented.
“Birth registration, we look at it as the first right of every child to be counted, to be recognised and it is really impressive, I have served in many places but I have not seen in two years, we could have a progress that has happened here in Nigeria.
“We have 14 million children their births have been registered, the system is being digitalized at the health facility at the world level as well, combine that, there is a bill before the National Assembly, things don’t just happen like that, we scale with our leadership.
“I am really grateful for you leading this area of birth registration and allowing us to celebrate this fantastic leadership,” she said.
Ms Abdelatef also referenced the commendation the First Lady received from her counterparts across Africa.
“I have seen by myself being African women that our first ladies across the continent at the African Union commended your leadership and I think that is very important for the whole continent beyond Nigeria.
“And on the Renewed Hope Agenda, giving hope for children and the people,” she added.
In her response, Mrs Tinubu acknowledged UNICEF’s longstanding contributions to Nigeria, emphasising that birth registration ensures every child is recognised from birth and must continue until all Nigerian children are registered.
She stressed that every child has the right to be counted, to a nationality, and to a legal identity that enables access to essential services, including healthcare.
While expressing satisfaction with the significant progress made in birth registration, the First Lady raised concerns over persistent health challenges.
“Nigeria is a huge population, when it comes to Tuberculosis, HIV/Aids and Child and Maternal mobility, all those are what the numbers are still high, and it is worrisome for me.
“However, we are not seating with our hands folded, we are trying to do the best that we can to see that this administration is able to position Nigeria to what the future should hold for us,’’.
She thanked UNICEF for its continued partnership and reaffirmed her readiness to collaborate further.
“In any area you want us to collaborate, we are here, we want to thank the UNICEF for the interest and the works you have done, in years that I have known UNICEF, they have always given us a right data to work with,” she said.
