UNICEF Pushes for NIN at Birth to Improve Civil Registration in Nigeria

UNICEF Pushes for NIN at Birth to Improve Civil Registration in Nigeria

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is calling for the issuance of National Identity Numbers (NIN) at birth 2evfor every child in Nigeria, particularly those in underserved regions. UNICEF’s Country Representative to Nigeria, Ms. Cristian Munduate, made this appeal during the 2024 Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day in Abuja, emphasizing the need to integrate NINs into the civil registration process from birth to ensure all children are accounted for.

Celebrated annually on August 10th since 2018, the 2024 CRVS Day focuses on “Strengthening the linkage of civil registration and vital statistics to legal identity systems through digitalisation for enhanced inclusion.”

Munduate highlighted that about eight million babies are born in Nigeria each year, and ensuring they all receive a birth registration is essential. She urged a stronger collaboration with the health sector to ensure that every child, regardless of location, is registered at birth without exceptions, translating government commitments into actionable steps.

The Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Ms. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, echoed the importance of digitalizing the identity sector in Nigeria. Represented by Mr. Lanre Yusuf, NIMC’s Director of Information Technology, Coker-Odusote noted that over 108 million NINs have been issued, with 20% allocated to children. She emphasized NIMC’s efforts to enroll all children under 16 years of age as part of its broader inclusivity drive.

Coker-Odusote also announced plans to launch an improved General Multipurpose Card (GMPC) in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), and AFRIGO. This card aims to support government initiatives, including social safety net programs.

National Population Commission (NPC) Chairman, Mr. Isa Kwarra, underscored the vital role of civil registration and vital statistics systems in recognizing legal identities and providing critical data for national planning and governance. He stressed the need for modernizing these systems to make them accessible to all, particularly marginalized communities.

The CRVS Day commemoration serves to raise public awareness about the importance of timely registration of vital events like births and deaths, crucial for a well-functioning civil registration system in Nigeria.