Nigeria’s population agency advances digital registration system, assures of data to promote women, girls’ welfare

The Federal Commissioner representing Anambra State in the Commission, Mr. Chidi Ezeoke made this known in Awka during a media conference organised by the Commission in commemoration of the 2020 World Population Day.

The World Population Day (WPD) is part of international awareness campaign that is celebrated annually to beam global attention to the urgency and importance of population issues the world over.

The day is an opportunity to take stock of the State of the population especially women and girls and thereby determine the way forward in ensuring their fundamental human rights are upheld.

The Federal Commissioner, Mr. Ezeoke who was represented by the State Director of the Commission, Mr. Joachim Ulasi said that the Commission is in the final stage of digitisation of vital and civil registration system with the procurement and deployment of computers, tablets, generators and other logistics to the 21 local government areas of the state from the federal government.

Mr. Ezeoke said that the theme for this year’s World Population Day “How to safeguard the health and rights of women and girls now” was apt since the world is saddled with the scourge of the COVID-19

pandemic and its damaging consequences especially on vulnerable individuals.

He explained that women were mostly affected by the pandemic in the areas of unwanted pregnancies, rape, physical and emotional assault, early marriage, gender based violence amongst others, highlighting

numerous programmes initiated by the Commission that can help in mitigating practices that negates the rights of women and girls.

The Federal Commissioner further stated their continued collaboration with United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA and other development partners, NGOs, ministries, departments and agencies of government to generate data meant to address cases of women’s health, sexual harassment through surveys and research.