… Pays courtesy visit to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu
The UNICEF has announced as 14 million, the number of children whose births were officially registered in Nigeria within the past two years.
The UNICEF Country Representative to Nigeria, Ms Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef disclosed this on Friday during a courtesy visit to the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu in her office at the State House, Abuja.
She commended the First Lady for providing the leadership in the areas where UNICEF is working and also for impacting lives in areas that have to do with children and families across the nation.
“We looked at Birth registration as the first right of every child -to be counted, to be recognised and it is really impressive. I have served in many places but I have not seen in two years the progress that has happened here in Nigeria,” She said, adding that, “We have 14 million children whose births have been registered. The system is being digitalized at the health facility at the world level as well. Combined with that is a related bill before the National Assembly. I am really grateful to you for leading in this area of birth registration and allowing us to celebrate this fantastic leadership,’’
She also harped on the First Lady’s role in reviving the national library, as well as the launch of food bank and in rallying First Ladies in the Continent, which has been commended by the African Union.
“I think that is very important for the whole continent beyond Nigeria. And also, there is the Renewed Hope Agenda, giving hope for children and the people”.
In her response, Senator Oluremi Tinubu acknowledged UNICEF’s impact in Nigeria, declaring that birth registration provides that every child be registered immediately after birth, emphasizing that child registration must continue until every Nigerian child is registered.
She said every child has a right to be counted as a means of integration of children into the nation’s health services.
She said, “What joy do I have this morning to hear that birth registration is going on well. This is how nations develop. I won’t say that we are really there yet; for me, we have to keep with it and make sure that every child is counted, and it is the beginning for us not just in the area of birth registration alone, but also birth certification”.
“Nigeria has not had census in a long time, so we don’t really have a head count but if we start with the registration of children, we would know the number of children to care for and this awould guide the government to provide for its citizens,’’.
The First Lady, while expressing happiness on the scale of the improvement on birth registration, further decried the high rate of Tuberculosis, HIV/Aids and Child and Maternal mobidity.
“Nigeria is a huge population, when it comes to Tuberculosis, HIV/Aids and Child and Maternal mobidity and it is worrisome for me. However, we are not seating with our hands folded. We are trying to do the best that we can to see that this administration is able to position Nigeria for future greatness,” Tinubu said.
She thanked the UNICEF for supporting the country and promised to collaborate with the organisation going forward.
