UNICEF Advocates for Birth Registration as Child's Right

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has declared birth registration as the first and most fundamental right of every child, essential for accessing education, healthcare, and social protection. Celine Lafoucriere, Chief of the Lagos Field Office, made this statement on Tuesday during a two-day media dialogue on birth registration held in Lagos.

The event, organized in collaboration with the National Population Commission (NPC), aimed to enhance media coverage of birth registration, themed “Giving Every Child a Legal Identity by Driving Birth Registration in Nigeria.” Lafoucriere explained that civil registration provides the legal identity necessary for children to be recognized by the state, enabling them to access health services and participate in civic duties as adults. She noted that many parents delay registration due to weak systems that allow unregistered children to access some public services.

Lafoucriere urged journalists to inform parents about the benefits of birth registration and where to access the service, particularly at Primary Healthcare Centres. Sherifdeen Kekere-Ekun, Lagos State Director of NPC, emphasized the workshop's role in correcting misconceptions about birth registration.