NPC, UNICEF Partner to Accelerate Digital Birth Registration in Kano
By Ayeeshat J Ahmad Kano
The National Population Commission (NPC), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and with support from the Government of the Netherlands, has launched a two-day training on digital birth registration in Kano State.
The training aims to strengthen the civil registration system and ensure that every child has a legal identity.
Speaking at the event, the NPC Kano State Director,Baba Balarabe Kabir, said the initiative is designed to build the capacity of participants to effectively use the Vital Registration application.
“The training will enhance technical proficiency among registrars and improve service delivery,” he said.
Kabir noted that birth registration remains critical to protecting children’s rights and ensuring access to essential services.
He added that participants would cascade the knowledge gained to ward-level registrars to expand coverage across the state.
In his remarks, ALGON focal person from Sumaila Local Government, Hamza Garba, described the training as timely and relevant.
He said the initiative would strengthen implementation at the grassroots level and improve service delivery in local communities.
Similarly, the Deputy Chief Registrar of Kabo Local Government, Umara Barka, described digital birth registration as a key driver of development.
He noted that the training has boosted staff morale and improved their understanding of the system.
Some participants, however, highlighted challenges affecting full coverage.
Barira Kabir Dambazau noted that hard-to-reach areas remain a major obstacle to achieving 100 percent birth registration in Kano State.
“Many communities are in remote locations, making access to registration centres difficult for parents,” she said.
Another participant, Asiya Tukur Idris from Tsanyawa Local Government, said awareness has improved significantly in recent years.
“In the past, many families delayed registration due to distance and lack of awareness, but now acceptance has increased,” she said.
She added that parents now understand the importance of birth certificates and are making efforts to register their children, even in difficult areas.
Stakeholders say the adoption of digital tools will improve efficiency, accessibility, and data management in the system.
Birth registration is a fundamental human right and plays a key role in national planning and development.
Pulse Time Nigeria reports that the training is taking place at the NPC State Headquarters in partnership with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
The programme targets ALGON focal persons and NPC District Civil Registrars from all 44 Local Government Areas in Kano State.