Local government chairmen across Lagos State have pledged total commitment to the successful rollout of the nationwide electronic birth registration initiative launched by the National Population Commission (NPC) in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).
EpeInsights reports that Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government and Chairman of the Conference of Lagos State Council Chairmen, Hon. Sesan Olowa, while Speaking on behalf of all council chairmen in the state at the Multi-Sectoral Stakeholder Dialogue on Birth Registration, reaffirmed the readiness of local councils to drive the digital registration process at the grassroots level.
Olowa described the initiative as a transformative shift from manual recordkeeping to a more efficient, transparent and technology-driven system capable of improving national data management and development planning.
“Having an electronic birth data system is the way to go for so many reasons. It allows easy access to data that is crucial for national planning in education, health, and other sectors. As chairmen, our responsibility is to ensure that this becomes a success, and we are putting everything behind it,” he said.
According to him, the new system represents a milestone in efforts to modernize the country’s civil registration process, noting that local governments are providing both political and technical leadership to ensure that every child in Lagos is digitally registered.
“There are two key issues compliance and modernization. We are now moving from manual to digital records. This will help us plan better as local governments, as a state, and as a nation,” he added.
Olowa disclosed that focal persons across all local government areas have been trained to manage the e-registration process, while primary health centres have been designated as registration hubs. He noted that equipment and digital devices have already been distributed, and any shortfalls are being addressed swiftly to ensure seamless implementation.
“Our primary health care centres are fully prepared with trained staff. Across Ibeju-Lekki and other local government areas, we are ready to deliver this. We are confident that Lagos will lead in achieving this national goal,” he said.
The council boss also appealed to parents and guardians to take advantage of the ongoing registration, urging them to visit designated centres within their communities to obtain digital birth certificates for their children.
“My advice to parents is simple: embrace this opportunity. Register your children at your local government centres. It is in the best interest of every family and the country at large,” he urged.
He further highlighted the importance of ongoing sensitization and stakeholder engagement across communities, describing them as key to boosting public awareness and ensuring widespread participation.
The digital birth registration initiative aims to register over 545,000 children under one year in Lagos State by 2025.
The effort forms part of Nigeria’s broader agenda to establish a comprehensive, technology-based civil registration system that guarantees every child a legal identity, in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.9, which advocates for legal identity for all by 2030.
