Millions of Nigerian Children at Risk of Being Left Invisible as FG Intensifies Birth Registration Drive
Nigeria is making a renewed effort to ensure all children are registered at birth, joining other African countries to celebrate the 2026 Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day.
The campaign, which is celebrated on August 10, emphasizes birth registration as an essential child protection measure. Legal recognition provides children with evidence of their identity and contributes to the protection of their access to health care, education, social protection and other critical services.
According to the National Population Commission (NPC), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and development partners, digital birth registration is now available in over 6,000 of the 8,809 wards in Nigeria.
More than 14.5 million children, including children in hard-to-reach and humanitarian areas, have also been reached through targeted campaigns.
Dr Aminu Yusuf, the chairman of the NPC, said that each registered birth builds the basis for child protection and national development, and the commission is committed to counting every child and legally recognising them.
Incorporating birth registration into digital identity systems could establish a seamless identity journey from birth to adulthood, NIMC Director-General Abisoye Coker-Odusote said.
UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, said birth registration goes beyond obtaining a certificate, describing it as an entry point to protection, essential services and opportunities.
Registration can be an important protection from invisibility, exclusion and challenges to children who do not have legal identity. The renewed drive by Nigeria is thus making birth registration the focal point of child safeguarding and ensuring that no child is left unrecognized.
