The National Commissioner, National Population Commission, Kwara State, Alhaji Razaq Gidado has reassured Nigerians of credible Census saying the outcome will determine the future of the Country.
Alhaji Gidado stated this while addressing trainees at the ongoing training programme for facilitators held at the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin.
He said; “This year’s Census exercise is not like that of the past as the present one is technologically driven and the Commission has adopted the Computer-Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) data collection method which has largely reduced the use of paper forms.”
Alhaji Gidado stated that Nigerians and the nation cannot afford to jettison the exercise due to its importance as it would provide key information about persons, households, buildings, localities and the nation.
He recalled that the last census exercise held in the country was in 2006 which by international standards should hold every 10 years.
The NPC National Commissioner urged the people of Kwara to cooperate with the Census personnel by giving them all the necessary support and information required from them.
Alhaji Gidado who described Kwara as one of the first-generation states in the federation was marvelled at the low population of the state.
He stressed that it was through a population that the issue of social and economic development would be determined, appealing to the people to participate fully in the exercise.
Alhaji Gidado assured the people that the commission would give all necessary and legal support to the census personnel particularly the supervisors, facilitators and enumerators in ensuring they discharge their duties without fear or favour.
He also said adequate security measures would be put in place, particularly for those that would be posted to the rural areas.
Alhaji Gidado commended participants at the 10-day training workshop for their commitment and zeal. He urged them to concentrate more on the training programme as they would end up training the Enumerators whom he described as the most important census functionaries.
Participants at the training programme commended the commission for allowing them to be part of the 2023 census and promised to discharge their duties assiduously.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
