By George Ozalla
The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and the National Population Commission (NPC) have announced a strategic partnership to strengthen birth registration and establish a comprehensive gender-focused population database.
Honourable Minister Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, FSI, made the disclosure while receiving a delegation from the NPC, led by its Chairman, Dr. Aminu Yusuf, during a courtesy visit to her Abuja office. The Minister highlighted the challenges faced by women in society and stressed that reliable population data provides the foundation for crafting targeted interventions.
According to a statement signed by Ahmed Lawan Danbazau, Head of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the collaboration will focus on community mobilization and sensitization of women to encourage active participation in continuous Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) processes, as well as the forthcoming Population and Housing Census. The Minister emphasized that proper registration of children at both community and hospital levels will enhance understanding of population dynamics and support inclusive national development.
Dr. Yusuf reaffirmed the NPC’s commitment to working closely with the Ministry to promote gender-responsive policies, expand birth registration coverage, and improve access to reliable population data. He highlighted that birth registration, particularly for the girl child, is essential in providing every child with a legal identity, which serves as a gateway to education, healthcare, and social protection services.
Both officials underlined the importance of the partnership in preparing for the 70th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), where they are expected to contribute to discussions advancing the rights of women and girls of reproductive age. The Ministry reaffirmed its dedication to promoting gender equity, child protection, and family empowerment through reliable data and evidence-based policy making.
