The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has commended the efforts of the National Population Commission (NPC) to rewrite the census history in Nigeria positively through meticulous planning and widespread deployment of technology at every stage of the national exercise.
While inaugurating the Census Publicity Committee yesterday in Abuja, the minister said, “We are happy to note that the commission is not only working towards the 2023 census but also laying a solid foundation for future census conduct.
“The federal government notes with satisfaction and commends the efforts of the commission to positively rewrite the history of census in Nigeria through meticulous planning and extensive deployment of technology at every stage of the national exercise.”
The Minister added that “The Demarcation of Enumeration Areas, which involves the division of the entire Nigerian land into small enumeration areas that can be covered by a pair of enumerators, has been carried out meticulously and digitally, and the resulting product will be suitable for other planning purposes.
“All buildings and structures in the country have been captured and geo-coded”, he added.
According to him, the census publicity committee has the Chairman, National Population Commission; Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA); Director General, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA); Director General, Federal Radio Corporation (FRCN); Director General, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and Director General, Voice of Nigeria (VON).
Others include the President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ); Director General, National Youth Service Corp (NYSC); President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE); President, Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC); Director General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation; Executive Director, National Film and Video Censor Board (NFVCB) and Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC).
Others are the President General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA); President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN); President, National Council of Women Societies (NCWS); President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS); President and National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN).
There were also, President, Market Women Association of Nigeria; Representatives of Civil Society Groups; Chairman, Public Affairs Committee (NPC); Chairman, Census Committee (NPC); Vice Chairman, Public Affairs Committee (NPC); Chairman, Census Committee (NPC); Vice Chairman, Public Affairs Committee; Chief Technical Advisor, (CTA); Director General, NPC; Census Manager, Director, Census (NPC) and Director, Public Affairs Department (NPC) to act as secretary.
While calling for maximum cooperation with the Commission in its efforts to deliver accurate and reliable demographic data for planning purposes, the Minister of Information and Culture said the 2023 census itself is a legacy program of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“As you know, Nigeria last conducted a population census in 2006. That was about 17 years ago – almost forever when you consider the importance of a population census to national development. It is recommended that a national population census be conducted every 10 years.
“The conduct of the 2023 Census is a top priority for the administration of President Buhari. It is borne out of the desire to leave a lasting legacy of evidence-based planning for sustainable development.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the National Population Commission, Alhaji Nasir Isa Kwarra, expressed happiness at the inauguration of the committee, stating that the event is another milestone in the journey of the Commission towards the success of the 2023 census that it hopes to produce. evidence-based demographic data for development planning purposes.
“The general vision of the 2023 census is to produce not only accurate, reliable and acceptable census data, but also inclusive and user-friendly data that will be used by all segments of society for development planning and critical program interventions.
“Therefore, as part of this commitment, the commission will deploy full digital technology in the conduct of the Census and will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the results of the census are acceptable to Nigerians, and the quality of the data is made to meet the best international standards.
“This aspiration has informed the methodology and quality of preparation for the census in the past few years. In all this, the need for Advocacy, Publicity and Public Enlightenment cannot be emphasized.
According to Isa Kwarra, “given this scenario, information, they say, “rules the world.” So, targeted advocacy and continuous publicity are without a doubt, essential for the success of the census exercise. This becomes even more important due to the fact that the census is carried out immediately after 2023 general election.
“Therefore, the mobilization of critical stakeholders to support and take ownership of the process to achieve the desired results is important and depends very much on our ability to speak to the people in a language that will galvanize and mobilize them to participate in the 2023 census. .
“To this end, the commission will rely on your expertise and structure to send a message to every home and household to encourage support and participation in the Population and Housing Census 2023.”
It added: “To ensure that committee members are familiar with the census process and methodology, workshops will be held to keep them up to date on census preparations.
“Furthermore, the committee must be sure that the commission has its full support in carrying out this important national task”, Kwarra said.