The Bauchi State government has renewed its call for increased birth registration, describing the exercise as a fundamental safeguard for children’s rights, a gateway to essential services, and a cornerstone of effective development planning.
Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination, Hajiya Amina Katagum, made the appeal on Saturday in Bauchi during the 2026 World Population Day celebration, organised in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Ms Katagum stressed that every registered birth formally recognises a child’s identity and guarantees access to education, healthcare, legal protection and other vital services. She noted that reliable population data underpins good governance, enabling authorities to make informed decisions on schools, hospitals, roads, water facilities and other critical infrastructure.
The commissioner urged parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, communities and other stakeholders to actively promote birth registration and support data collection initiatives to facilitate sustainable development. She affirmed that the state government would continue collaborating with development agencies to strengthen civil registration and vital statistics systems for evidence-based planning and improved service delivery.
Delivering the UNFPA Executive Director’s message, the agency’s state programme officer in Bauchi, Deborah Tabara, emphasised that birth registration and reliable population data are essential to ensuring every child is counted and every young person has the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
Ms Diene Keita, in her address, called for greater investment in education, healthcare, housing, employment, childcare support and other social protection measures. She noted that recent UNFPA demographic surveys revealed that while most young people still desire marriage and parenthood, many fear economic uncertainty, housing challenges and widening inequalities may prevent them from achieving these goals.
“Addressing these challenges will empower young people to make informed decisions about their lives and contribute meaningfully to national development,” she said.
Earlier, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Ahmed Rufa’i, said the commemoration offered an opportunity to reflect on population issues and reaffirm the commitment to improving young people’s well-being through sound policies, reliable data, and strategic investments.
This year’s World Population Day is themed: “Realising the Hope and Potential of Young People in a Changing World.”
(NAN)
