NOA urges parents to embrace e-birth registration in Yobe Registration

By Ahmed Abba

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Yobe has urged parents to embrace the ongoing electronic birth registration exercise so as to enhance child protection and development planning.

NOA State Director, Hajiya Maryam Shettima, made the call at a one-day stakeholders’ engagement held on Tuesday in Damaturu.

The engagement was organised by the Yobe Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, together with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Shettima said that the aim of the engagement was to promote social mobilisation across the 17 Local Government Areas.

She explained that the electronic registration services were accessible across the 178 political wards of the state.

‘’Birth registration is vital for safeguarding children’s rights and supporting government’s long-term planning in education, healthcare and other sectors, ‘’ she said.

The director, consequently, urged parents and guardians to take advantage of the exercise in the interest of their children’s future.

She commended the state government and UNICEF for supporting the stakeholders’ engagement aimed at strengthening awareness.

On his part, the representative of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Mohammed Lamba, reaffirmed government’s commitment to child protection and accurate data collection.

Lamba described birth registration data as being critical for effective development planning and service delivery.

He consequently, urged local government authorities, traditional rulers and the NOA, to intensify sensitisation efforts, in a bid to ensure the success of the initiative.

NAN