Population Day: National Population Commission Advocates For More Registration Centers In Anambra

              

Odogwuemekaodogwu.blogspot.com reports that Anambra State, has joined the rest of the world in commemorating of the 2014 World Population Day with a call on the state government and other stakeholders to create more registration centers in the state for wider coverage so as to capture the vital data base of the births and death rates in the state.

The Federal Commissioner representing Anambra State in the National Population Commission (NPC), Prof. Chuka Moore observed that Anambra state recorded the lowest percentage registration of births and deaths compared to what is obtainable in other states of the federation.

Prof. Moore, while speaking on the theme; “Invest in young people today” submitted that Nigeria is blessed considering the population pyramid but stressed on the need to invest in the young ones to make them productive.

“It is a matter of deliberate policy, we must invest in the young ones by making them have access to qualitative education. We must create a safe environment that will help the young ones develop their skills and resilience”, he submitted.

The Federal Commissioner, however, called on the government to make a policy that will make all multi-national companies employ Nigerian youths at trainee level as that, according to him, will help have experience and curb crime.

He also noted that NPC will go into partnership with the Ministry of Health and other ministries and agencies to ensure that newborn children are dully registered at birth to capture the data base of all births in the state-level, even as he urged the state government to employ sub-registrars in the 177 communities of the state to assist the NPC in registering births in the state.

On his part, the Anambra state Director, NPC, TPL Joachim Ulasi highlighted the significance of vital registration in development planning in the areas of education, health, housing and security.

He disclosed that Anambra state has only 124 registered centres in the state which, he said, is not restricted and advocated for signing of MOU with the Ministry of Local Government in an effort to boost vital registration in the state.

However, he regretted that inadequate funding, insufficient teaching capacity, low coverage and lack of awareness hinders effective operation of the commission, stressing on the need to sensitise and mobilize more people to imbibe culture of registration of vital events in the state.

Quizz competition by students form part of the highpoint of the programme that was attended by president Generals of various communities, Security operatives, government officials and other stakeholders.