The United Nations Children’s Fund has announced that 14 million children in Nigeria have been officially registered at birth within the last two years, a milestone described as a major step forward in securing legal identity for young citizens.
The disclosure was made by UNICEF Country Representative Wafaa Abdelatef during a visit to the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, at the State House in Abuja on Friday.
Abdelatef stressed that birth registration is a fundamental entitlement for every child, explaining that formal documentation ensures recognition and inclusion. She noted that the scale of progress achieved in Nigeria within a relatively short period stands out when compared with other countries where she has previously worked.
According to her, efforts are underway to digitise the registration process across health facilities nationwide to make it faster and more efficient. She also revealed that lawmakers are considering supportive measures to strengthen the legal framework guiding birth registration.
The UNICEF official credited strong leadership and cooperation between stakeholders for the accelerated expansion of the system, which she said would guarantee more children access to identity documents, social services and protection.
In her response, the First Lady commended UNICEF’s sustained partnership with Nigeria and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that every child is properly documented.
She observed that legal identity is essential for accessing healthcare, social protection programmes and for effective national planning. Tinubu added that improved birth records would help bridge data gaps, particularly in the absence of a recent population census, and support better service delivery for children.
However, she raised concerns about ongoing health challenges such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, as well as maternal and child mortality rates, describing them as issues that require intensified attention.
Despite the challenges, the First Lady expressed optimism, noting that ongoing reforms are aimed at improving health outcomes and strengthening collaboration with UNICEF to promote child welfare and national development.
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