UNICEF Hails Nigeria’s 14 Million Birth Increase in Two Years
Nigeria Sees Surge in Birth Registration, UNICEF Reports
ABUJA — The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced a substantial increase in birth registration in Nigeria, with 14 million children officially documented over the past two years.
During a courtesy visit to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu at the State House, UNICEF Country Representative to Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, highlighted the importance of birth registration as a fundamental right. She described the progress made in Nigeria as noteworthy, stating she had not witnessed such rapid advancements in her extensive career.
“Birth registration is the first right of every child to be counted and recognized,” Abdelatef said. “It is truly impressive that we have achieved this level of progress in such a short time.”
Abdelatef noted the digitalization of the birth registration system at health facilities, emphasizing the ongoing efforts at the governmental level, including a pending bill before the National Assembly. She praised Tinubu for her commitment to addressing issues affecting children and families, asserting that the momentum reflects robust national leadership.
“Your leadership in this area allows us to celebrate this remarkable achievement,” Abdelatef added.
The First Lady recognized UNICEF’s longstanding support and reiterated the necessity of ensuring every child is registered at birth. “Every child counts,” she stated, underscoring the significance of birth registration in securing nationality and legal identity, which are essential for accessing healthcare and other social services.
Tinubu expressed her satisfaction with the progress but emphasized the need to sustain efforts until all Nigerian children are accounted for. She acknowledged the challenges posed by the lack of a recent national census, highlighting the importance of reliable child registration data.
“Nigeria has not conducted a census in a long time, making reliable data even more critical,” she said.
Furthermore, Tinubu expressed concerns about high rates of tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and child and maternal mortality in the country. “These issues remain worrisome,” she noted.
Despite the challenges, the First Lady emphasized the administration’s commitment to improving the situation. “We are working diligently to position Nigeria for a brighter future,” she said.
Tinubu concluded by thanking UNICEF for its partnership and reiterated her pledge for continued collaboration. “We appreciate your interest and the invaluable data you have provided over the years,” she stated.
The developments were reported in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the First Lady, Busola Kukoyi, on February 20.
