By Nafisat Makinde
A major step toward universal child identification was taken this week as the National Population Commission (NPC), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) forged a strategic alliance to scale up birth registration and legal identity services for children under five in Nigeria.
The move followed a high-level technical meeting held in Abuja from May 28 to 29, bringing together key stakeholders at the Ladi Kwali Conference Hall of the Abuja Continental Hotel. The two-day session aimed to finalize a partnership compact and action plan focused on expanding birth certification and National Identification Number (NIN) enrollment, particularly in underserved and rural areas.
The initiative leverages digital technology, decentralized service delivery, and interoperable data systems to improve accessibility and sustainability. Central to the plan is the establishment of static registration points at ward level to reach more children, especially in communities with limited infrastructure.
Speaking on behalf of NPC Chairman Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, the Commission’s Director-General, Dr. Osifo Tellson Ojogun, highlighted the importance of institutional collaboration. “This partnership is a pivotal step in expanding access to birth registration and legal identity services for children under five,” Ojogun said. “It aligns with our mandate to strengthen Nigeria’s civil registration and vital statistics system to inform sustainable development planning.”
ALGON President, Hon. Engr. Bello Lawal, delivered a goodwill message expressing the association’s commitment to the project. “ALGON is fully committed to providing the necessary logistics to mobilize communities and ensure widespread participation,” he said, stressing the crucial role of local governments in grassroots data collection and service delivery.
UNICEF’s Chief Child Protection Officer in Nigeria, Dr. Ibrahim Sesay, reaffirmed the agency’s support. “Legal identity is a cornerstone of child protection and inclusive development. This initiative supports SDG 16.9 by ensuring legal identity for all, especially vulnerable children,” Sesay stated. He added that UNICEF would provide tools and training across 2,233 wards in 206 LGAs in pilot states to support implementation.
During the meeting, participants attended technical presentations and strategy sessions addressing system bottlenecks, registration center expansion, and policy alignment. The sessions concluded with the adoption of a detailed implementation work plan. The plan includes timelines, monitoring mechanisms, and a phased rollout in eleven pilot states: Katsina, Jigawa, Gombe, Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Bayelsa, Kebbi, Zamfara, Niger, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In attendance were NPC Federal Commissioners from Borno, Katsina, Bayelsa, Gombe, Taraba, Niger, Zamfara, and the FCT, along with NPC State Directors from the pilot states. Senior representatives of NIMC, ALGON, and other development partners also participated in the deliberations.
The strategic alliance is a critical milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to close the legal identity gap and fulfill the rights of every child to be registered, recognized, and protected.
