By Emeka Amaefula
UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND TO COLLABORATE WITH NIGERIA IN 2023 NATIONAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS
The inauguration of Media Committee in Rivers state for the 2023 National Population and Housing Census exercise was conducted on Monday 27th of March, 2023 at Golden Tulip Hotel GRA Phase 2 Port Harcourt Rivers state. Dr. Ipalibo Macdonald Harry the Rivers state Representative and Federal Commissioner and Chairman 2023 National Population and Housing Census Committee conducted the inauguration during the 3-Day Workshop for members of the Commission on Census Operations and Processes in preparation for the 2023 Population and Housing Census which took place at Port Harcourt Rivers state from 26th to 29th of March, 2023. The Media Committee which comprises head of Media Outfits and National Orientation Agency Head in Rivers state plus Rivers State Commissioner for Information and communications Mr. Chris Finebone were charged to carry the message of the 2023 National Population and Housing Census to the grassroots and in various communities of the state. The Committee also included past Rivers state Representatives in National Population Commission as they took over the campaign drive for enlightenment of the 2023 census which had already began with the display of outdoor billboards and Radio jingles and Television advertisements.
The new Resident Representative in Nigeria of United Nations Population FUND-UNFPA, Ms. Ulla Elizabeth Mueller via Online medium delivered message to the Workshop as she said “NPC has the opportunity to write history to make the head count and to demonstrate the potential to provide vital information about the people of this great country.
And the responsibility to carry out high quality census, it is not something you should take lightly. You need to demonstrate that you are making the most effective decisions in terms of planning, in terms of carrying out processes and the most consequential transparent decisions that your activities are well planned in good time and in the right time with the approved agenda. And you have the opportunity to proof and to demonstrate the legal framework and you have to demonstrate that you will not compromise the quality and the credibility of the Census. And you have the opportunity to demonstrate that our partnership rest on a solid foundation. We will sometimes disagree. As you know the United Nations Population Funds is a development leader in Census taking and we will consistently identify with the 2023 Census exercise with the NPC. And we will continue to strengthen NPC and continuously see to provide the enabling environment. You have to demonstrate that the entire process is clear also ensure that it’s strictly embedded in sustainable development goal framework that is involved in NPC agenda.”
The workshop addressed the need for 2023 Digital National Population and Housing Census exercise is carried out with adequate dissemination and transmission of data with all the participants comprising Federal Commissioners, Directors and other critical processes stakeholders urged to pay attention and work towards making the 2023 Census accurate and reliable.
——Emeka Amaefula——+234(0)8111813069
