The Lagos State government, in collaboration with the National Population Commission (NPC), is set to commence the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (ECRVS) program on September 2, 2024.
The initiative aims to modernize the process of birth registration and ensure accurate data collection for children across the state.
In preparation for this significant rollout, the NPC has begun training ad hoc registrars across various local government areas. Speaking at the opening of the training session at Kosofe Local Government, Mrs. Saidat Oladunjoye, the Federal Commissioner representing Lagos State, outlined the phased training approach. She noted that some councils have been merged for the training sessions, depending on their size and the number of volunteers available.
“This exercise is designed to train our ad hoc officials who will be responsible for the registration of births, ensuring we obtain accurate data on children born in Lagos State,” Oladunjoye stated. “The focus will be on registering children under 1 and 5 years of age. Registrations for children under 1 year will take place at hospitals and other institutions where births occur, while those for children under 5 years will be conducted at the community and ward levels.”
One of the unique aspects of this new registration process is that each registered child will automatically be assigned a National Identity Number (NIN). Oladunjoye emphasized the importance of capturing as many children as possible through this system, noting that it will significantly enhance government planning in areas such as education, health, and political development.
“Through this registration, the government can make informed decisions and create better plans for the future. It will also simplify data retrieval, eliminating the need for paper-based records, which are prone to being lost in transit,” she added.