First Lady unveils commemorative Birth Certificate

…highlights importance of civil registration for national development

By Kunle Sanni

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu emphasized the vital role of a comprehensive and effective civil registration system in fostering national development and enhancing governance on Thursday.

Speaking at the launch of the 2024 UNICEF/Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Commemorative Birth Certificate at the State House in Abuja, Mrs. Tinubu stressed the importance of registering every birth in Nigeria. She argued that a robust civil registration system is crucial for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 16, which focuses on promoting peace, justice, and strong institutions.

Mrs. Tinubu highlighted that a renewed focus on birth registration would create a reliable database for national planning and development, ensuring that every Nigerian is recognized from birth.

“A robust and efficient civil registration system is pivotal to our national development and governance,” she stated. “This system ensures that every live birth is recorded, forming the basis for policies, planning, and service delivery that meet the needs of all Nigerians. It’s more than just an administrative task—it’s the foundation of our social security.”

She also pointed out that societies prioritizing birth registration benefit from improved government planning and service delivery.

“Our children, the future of our nation, should be assured of their rights and privileges from the very beginning,” the First Lady continued. “A well-functioning civil registration and vital statistics system safeguards these rights and ensures that violations do not go unnoticed. For all parents, birth registration is essential—it is the child’s legal proof of identity as a Nigerian. Without it, children may not be fully recognized by the government, potentially missing out on access to healthcare, education, and other social services. Without a birth certificate, children cannot prove their age, which puts them at a significant disadvantage. I encourage all parents to register the births of their children and obtain authentic, government-recognized birth certificates.”

The First Lady also announced that the commemorative birth certificate initiative will run from August 29 to December 31, 2024.

“That is why the Renewed Hope Initiative is launching the 2024 Commemorative Birth Certificate to support the government’s birth registration efforts. This special certificate, featuring the RHI logo, will be issued by the National Population Commission for all births registered between August 29, 2024, and December 31, 2024,” she explained.

UNICEF Country Representative Christian Munduate commended the Nigerian government’s efforts to ensure that no birth goes unregistered, especially with the introduction of new technological methods to improve registration rates.

“Nigeria has made significant strides, and with the First Lady’s support and her initiative, I am confident we will reach our goals,” Munduate said.

Additionally, the Dein of Agbor, HRM Dr. Benjamin Keagborekuzi, underscored the critical role women play in achieving success across all sectors and urged the youth to be patient with the current administration. Other traditional rulers present, including the Ooni of Ife, the Emir of Shonga, Etsu Nupe, and the Tor Tiv, also emphasized that having comprehensive birth data is fundamental for the country’s social security framework.

The event featured a symbolic electronic registration of children, underscoring the drive to modernize and improve birth registration processes across Nigeria.

Wives of State Governors were also in attendance, pledging to extend the birth registration initiative to their respective states, further accelerating efforts to ensure every child in Nigeria is registered at birth.