The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has committed to collaborating with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in a significant effort towards achieving universal registration and legal identity for all Nigerian children, aligning with UNICEF’s vision for 2030,leadership reports.
Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the Director-General (DG) of NOA, made this announcement in a press release issued yesterday in Abuja during a visit from the UNICEF team, led by Ibrahim Siseh, the chief child protection officer at UNICEF.
The primary aim of the meeting was to establish a strategic partnership focused on developing an action plan and awareness campaign to ensure universal registration and legal identity for all Nigerian children.
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Issa-Onilu highlighted the urgency of the situation, citing that only 60-65 percent of children in Nigeria are currently registered under the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.9 framework, which underscores the importance of providing legal identity for all, including birth registration.
The collaboration between UNICEF and NOA involves utilizing digital systems and existing healthcare services to facilitate the issuance of birth certificates for every child.
Overcoming household barriers, enhancing demand for quality civil registration services, and involving traditional communicators to influence customary practices and enhance social communication are among the key priorities.
Issa-Onilu emphasized NOA’s dedication to partnering with stakeholders on issues concerning women and children, including the promotion of family values and effective parenting.
He underlined the significance of community sensitization and the involvement of traditional leaders i
