NPC Intensifies Birth Registration Outreach in Kano

By: Hauwa Mustapha, Kano

The National Population Commission (NPC) in Kano State has intensified efforts to improve birth registration for children less than one year of age through a community-based outreach programme supported by UNICEF with funding from the Government of Netherlands, in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

Kano state residents of Dorayi in Gwale Local Government Area commended the ongoing birth registration outreach campaign targeting children under one year, describing the initiative as timely and beneficial to families.

“Many parents and caregivers who turned out at the village head’s residence said the exercise provided them with the opportunity to register their children free of charge and obtain birth certificates instantly”.

Hajiya Maryam Murtala, a mother of five, said she registered her eight-month-old child after learning about the exercise through community announcements.

“I missed the opportunity to complete the process at the hospital after delivery, but when I heard the announcements about the exercise, I quickly came to register my child,” she explained.

Hajiya Murtala, said she understood the importance of birth registration, especially for school admission and other official requirements.

“The process was smooth and stress-free, although we spent money on transportation to get here,”  Murtala stated.

Similarly, Mr. Sama’ila Lawan Bello, caregiver of a seven-month-old baby, urged other women to take advantage of the free registration programme, while Fatima Mohammad, a mother of three from Kwara State, praised the campaign for helping her register a child delivered at home.

The Head of the Department of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics at the NPC Kano State Office, Hajiya Fatima Mohammed Bashir, said the initiative was introduced through collaborations with UNICEF, NPC, NIMC and ALGON with funding from Netherland to increase birth registration among children below one year.

She noted that many parents traditionally delayed registration until children were ready for school, stressing the need for early registration to secure children’s legal identity and access to social services.

According to her, sustained sensitization campaigns and community outreach had significantly improved awareness in recent years, while the introduction of mobile registration teams equipped with printers and generators enabled the instant issuance of certificates.

The ALGON focal person, Habibu Babale, also speaks to Voice of Nigeria,  that more than 700 children had been registered in the local government area since the campaign began in April 2026.

Furthermore, the Deputy Chief Registrar of NPC in Gwale Local Government Area, Ali Nuhu, said that although the exercise had recorded success in hard-to-reach communities, one day was insufficient to cover all eligible children due to the large population and transportation challenges.

Mr. Nuhu therefore, called for increased sensitisation through traditional rulers, religious leaders, schools, markets and community gatherings, while recommending that the outreach be extended to ensure wider coverage across the area.