UNICEF Reports 14 Million Birth Registrations in Nigeria

UNICEF disclosed that 14 million Nigerian children have been officially registered at birth in the past two years, indicating significant progress in legal identity coverage. Wafaa Abdelatef, UNICEF's country representative, made this announcement during a visit to the State House in Abuja, where she met with First Lady Oluremi Tinubu.

Abdelatef emphasized that birth registration is a fundamental right for every child and highlighted the impressive achievement of registering 14 million children in such a short period. She noted the digitization of the registration system across health facilities, which has improved efficiency and supports legislative efforts to strengthen the process.

First Lady Tinubu acknowledged UNICEF's long-standing support for Nigeria and stressed the importance of continuing birth registration until every Nigerian child is captured. She also expressed concerns about ongoing health challenges, including tuberculosis and maternal-child mortality, and reaffirmed her commitment to collaborating with UNICEF to advance child welfare in Nigeria.