UNICEF is advocating for the issuance of National Identity Numbers (NINs) at birth for every child in Nigeria to improve civil registration.
At the 2024 Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day event, UNICEF Country Representative Cristian Munduate emphasized the importance of birth registration for children in all regions of Nigeria, including rural and hard-to-reach areas.
She highlighted that about eight million babies are born annually in Nigeria and stressed that birth registration should be universal in every maternity ward.
Ms. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), noted that NIMC has issued over 108 million NINs, including about 20% for children. NIMC aims to enroll all children under 16 as part of its inclusivity efforts.