UNICEF, NPC Partner Media to Improve Birth Registration in Bauchi

By Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the National Population Commission (NPC) are partnering with journalists in Bauchi State to promote massive birth registration activities across the state.

The Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Nigeria, Bauchi, Abdulai Kaikai, who stated this Thursday at a one-day stakeholders meeting by media executives on massive birth registration exercise in Bauchi State, said the exercise was meant to enable the child establish his or her official identity and nationality.

“Partnering with the media in this exercise is very important because registering a child’s birth is a critical first step towards safeguarding his or her lifelong protection by establishing an official identity for them,” he said.

According to him, “Collaboration with journalists is necessary to create awareness, education on the need for birth registration in the state as it will give the child a recognised name and nationality.

“Birth registration is more than just a right. It’s how societies first recognise and acknowledge a child’s identity and existence, because without registering a child at birth, there is no protection against child labour, against child marriage and trafficking.”

Details later…