UNICEF, Partners Rally Lagos Stakeholders to Achieve Universal Birth Registration

By Bilkis Abdulraheem Lawal

In a renewed drive to ensure that no child is left behind in government planning and social development, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and its development partners have convened a Multi-Sectoral Stakeholder Dialogue on Birth Registration in Lagos.

Speaking at the one-day event held in Ikeja, the Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere, emphasised that birth registration is the first line of protection for every child, noting that without it, children remain invisible to government systems and risk being excluded from healthcare, education, and other essential services.

Lafoucriere lauded Lagos State for achieving a 94% birth registration rate among children under five, describing it as proof of the government’s commitment to child protection and inclusive governance.

She, however, called for stronger integration of birth registration across critical sectors. “The Ministry of Health must link registration with immunisation and maternal care; education authorities should make it a requirement for school enrolment; traditional and community leaders must promote it as a civic duty; and the media must amplify messages that resonate across all communities,” she said.

In her remarks, Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission (NPC), Lagos State, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, urged community leaders, religious groups, and local councils to intensify mobilisation for accurate registration, stressing that reliable birth data guides government in planning schools, hospitals, and infrastructure.

Speaking on “Identity Bottlenecks and Opportunities in Lagos,” Welfare Officer, Child Protection Network (CPN), Mrs Olajumoke Otitoloju, identified barriers such as poverty, low awareness, and rural inaccessibility as key obstacles to universal registration.

She recommended that birth registration desks be established in all public schools under the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), so that no child is denied enrolment for lack of documentation.

Themed “Every Child Counts: Accelerating Birth Registration in Lagos State,” the dialogue brought together representatives from the Ministries of Health, Education, Youth and Social Development, ALGON, traditional and religious leaders, civil society, and the media.

Participants jointly agreed to develop a Lagos State Birth Registration Action Plan aimed at strengthening awareness, integrating registration into health and education systems, and ensuring measurable progress by the end of the year.