Every Child Counts: Nigeria Records 14 Million New Birth Registrations in Two-Years

The figures were highlighted by the UNICEF Country Representative to Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, during a high-level visit to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at the State House. Abdelatef described the rapid progress as “remarkable,” noting that such a scale of documentation in a short window is rare globally.

The secret behind the spike lies in a modernizing system. Nigeria has moved toward digitalizing birth registration at both health facilities and ward levels. This technological shift, supported by a pending bill in the National Assembly, has allowed the government to capture data more efficiently than ever before.

Abdelatef credited the success to strong national leadership and the First Lady’s advocacy for family-centered issues. “Birth registration is the first right of every child to be counted and recognized,” the UNICEF representative stated. “I have served in many places, but I have not seen progress like this in just two years.”

For a country that has not conducted a national census in many years, these registration figures provide a vital lifeline for government planning. Senator Tinubu emphasized that knowing the number of children is the first step in providing adequate healthcare, education, and social services.

“If we start with the children, at least we would know the number of children to care for,” the First Lady remarked. “This is how nations develop.”

While celebrating the 14 million milestone, the First Lady was quick to point out that the work is far from over. She stressed that the ultimate goal is not just a record of birth, but the issuance of official birth certificates for every Nigerian child to secure their legal identity and nationality.

Despite the celebration of better data, the meeting also touched on the sobering realities facing Nigerian families. Senator Tinubu raised concerns over the country’s persistently high rates of:

Tuberculosis (TB)

HIV/AIDS

She noted that while the population size makes these challenges daunting, the current administration is not “sitting with folded hands.” Accurate data from partners like UNICEF, she explained, is the primary tool the government uses to position Nigeria for a healthier future.

The session concluded with a mutual pledge to deepen the partnership between the Nigerian government and UNICEF, ensuring that the momentum gained in the last two years becomes a permanent standard for the nation’s youngest citizens.