Nigeria has been commended for its commitment to ensuring that every child is registered at birth and recognised before the law as the country joins the rest of the continent to commemorate Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day 2026.
It is being observed under the theme, “New CRVS Decade (2026-2036): Consolidating the gains of the Africa Programme on Accelerated Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (APAI-CRVS) and securing the future of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Africa through integration, decentralisation and digitalisation,”
A statement by the Communications and Advocacy Specialist of UNICEF, Susan Akila noted that this year’s commemoration highlights the critical role of legal identity in protecting children’s rights and strengthening national development.
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“Birth registration is a child’s first legal recognition by the state. It provides proof of identity and lays the foundation for access to healthcare, education, social protection, and legal protection throughout life. It also generates vital datathat supports planning and service delivery,” she stated.
Akila explained that Nigeria continues to strengthen its Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system through collaboration among the National Population Commission (NPC), the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), development partners, and communities.
“According to NPC administrative data, digital birth registration services are now available in more than 6,000 of Nigeria’s 8,809 wards, while targeted registration efforts have reached more than 14.5 million children, including those living in rural, hard-to-reach and humanitarian settings,” she disclosed.
She noted that across states such as Bayelsa, Gombe, Jigawa, Taraba, Kebbi, Niger, and Zamfara, registration services are increasingly being linked with health facilities and community outreach initiatives, bringing services closer to families and helping ensure more children are registered closer to the point of birth.
At the commemoration of Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day 2026, the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr. Aminu Yusuf said: “Every registered birth strengthens the foundation for child protection and national development.”
“Our priority is to ensure that every child, regardless of where they are born, is counted, protected and recognised before the law,” he emphasised.
As Nigeria advances its legal identity agenda, digitalisation and stronger integration between civil registration and identity management systems are improving the efficiency, accessibility, and reliability of registration services.
According to Dr Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, “integrated digital identity systems create a seamless pathway for individuals from birth through adulthood, while improving access to services and strengthening governance.”
Meawhile, stakeholders observed that local governments continue to play a critical role in expanding access to registration services and raising awareness at community level.
Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Mr Bello Lawal, emphasised that decentralisation is essential to ensuring that children in remote and underserved communities are not left behind.
“Bringing services closer to families increases access and encourages timely registration,” he noted.
The importance of sustained political commitment was emphasised by Mr Okunjimi John Odimayo, Chairman of the House Committee on the National Population Commission, who noted that “strong civil registration and vital statistics systems support better planning, more effective service delivery and improved development outcomes for all Nigerians.”
Challenges
Despite progress, significant challenges remain across the continent. Current estimates indicate that only about half of children under five in sub-Saharan Africa are registered at birth, with the region accounting for the largest share of unregistered children globally.
For UNICEF, strengthening birth registration systems remain fundamental to realising children’s rights and ensuring no child is invisible.
UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, said: “Birth registration is far more than a certificate. It is a gateway to protection, services, and opportunity,”
“UNICEF will continue working with the Government of Nigeria and partners to strengthen integrated, decentralised and digitalised systems that ensure every child is counted, protected and able to access their rights”.
As Africa enters a new decade of CRVS systems strengthening, Nigeria remains committed to expanding access to birth registration, improving vital statistics, and ensuring that every child has a legal identity from birth.
