First Lady, UNICEF Celebrate Surge in Child Birth Registration
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has applauded Nigeria for recording a sharp rise in birth registration, revealing that 14 million children have been officially registered over the past two years.
UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, made this known during a courtesy visit to Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, at the State House in Abuja.
Abdelatef praised the First Lady’s leadership and commitment to child welfare, noting that the progress recorded in Nigeria within such a short period is remarkable. She described birth registration as the fundamental right of every child, stressing that it ensures children are recognized, counted, and protected under the law.
According to her, the registration system is currently being digitised at health facilities across the country to improve efficiency and accessibility. She also referenced a bill before the National Assembly aimed at strengthening the process, adding that such achievements are made possible through strong political will and leadership.
The UNICEF representative further commended the First Lady’s broader interventions in areas affecting children and families, including her advocacy efforts and social programmes aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
In her response, Senator Tinubu acknowledged UNICEF’s longstanding support to Nigeria, describing birth registration as a crucial step in national development. She emphasized that every child has the right to a legal identity and nationality, which are essential for access to healthcare, education, and other social services.
While expressing satisfaction with the progress made, the First Lady maintained that more work remains to be done to ensure all Nigerian children are registered and issued birth certificates. She noted that accurate child registration figures would help government planning, particularly in the absence of recent comprehensive census data.
Tinubu also raised concerns over Nigeria’s high rates of tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and child and maternal mortality, describing the situation as troubling. However, she assured that the administration remains committed to improving health outcomes and positioning the country for a better future.
She reiterated her readiness to strengthen collaboration with UNICEF, appreciating the agency for providing reliable data and sustained support to Nigeria over the years.
The statement was signed by Busola Kukoyi, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
