The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported a remarkable surge in child birth registrations in Nigeria, with 14 million children officially recorded over the past two years.
The milestone was disclosed by UNICEF Country Representative to Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, during a courtesy visit to the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, at the State House, Abuja.
Ms. Abdelatef commended the First Lady for her leadership, noting that her advocacy extends beyond UNICEF’s operational areas and positively impacts children and families across the country.
“Birth registration is the first right of every child to be counted and recognised.
”In my years of service, I have not witnessed such progress in just two years as we have in Nigeria,” she stated.
Highlighting ongoing efforts, she revealed that the birth registration system is being digitalised at health facilities nationwide and emphasized the importance of supportive legislation currently before the National Assembly.
“Progress like this does not happen in isolation. Leadership drives change,” she added.
Responding, Mrs. Tinubu underscored the significance of registering every child, asserting that legal identity and nationality are vital for integrating children into national health and social services.
“Every child counts,” she said, adding that birth registration is the first step toward planning and delivering government services efficiently.
While celebrating the improvements, the First Lady also highlighted ongoing public health challenges, including high rates of tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and maternal and child mortality.
“Nigeria has a large population, and these figures are still worrying. But we are not idle; we are working to ensure our administration positions the nation for a healthier future,” she said.
Mrs. Tinubu also pledged continued collaboration with UNICEF, commending the organization for providing reliable data to guide policy decisions.
“In any area you want us to collaborate, we are ready. UNICEF has consistently supported Nigeria with accurate data and initiatives,” she added.
The recent strides in birth registration mark a crucial step toward ensuring that every Nigerian child is recognised and counted, laying the foundation for more effective health, education, and social planning nationwide.
