The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr. Aminu Yusuf, today, 11 August 2026, inspected digital birth registration exercises at the NPC Registration Centre inside Wuse General Hospital, Abuja, as part of activities to commemorate the 2026 Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day.
Stanley Onyekachukwu Nwosu, SA Media to the Chairman disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen.
Dr. Yusuf was accompanied by the Federal Commissioner for Plateau State and overseeing Commissioner for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Mrs. Mary Ishaya Afan; the Director-General of the Commission, Dr. Abuh Mohammed; and other senior officials.
They were joined by the UNICEF Chief of Child Protection, Ms. Natalie McCauley, and the Acting Medical Director of Wuse General Hospital, Dr. Hannatu Ovosi, to monitor the live digital registration and issuance of digital birth certificates to newborns.
During the exercise, three infants received their digital birth certificates directly from the NPC Chairman. They included two-month-old Chimamanda Eliora Mela, born to Mr. Mela Daberechi Okezue and Mrs. Gloria Kabari Mela; eleven-week-old Tayyib Shaheed, born to Mr. Ismaila Ajayi Shaheed and Mrs. Fatima Abdulazeez; and one-day-old Peter Vishekwo (twin), born to Mr. James Peter Vishekwo and Mrs. Dorcas Balaraba Yakubu.
In his remarks, Dr. Yusuf congratulated the babies and their parents, noting that the issuance of digital birth certificates and the simultaneous generation of National Identification Numbers (NIN) would give the children foundational legal identity and access to essential services such as healthcare and education.
He urged parents to promptly register the birth of their children, describing it as a critical step in securing their rights and future opportunities.
“The commemoration of Africa CRVS Day underscores the vital role of accurate civil registration data in national planning and development,” Dr. Yusuf said. “Without reliable data, effective policymaking becomes impossible.”
He also commended Wuse General Hospital for hosting the event and presented gifts to the registered babies.
Federal Commissioner overseeing FCT, Mrs. Mary Ishaya Afan praised the Chairman for his hands-on leadership, noting that the civil registration and vital statistics system had been transformed into a fully digital platform since his assumption of office.
Acting Medical Director, Dr. Hannatu Ovosi welcomed the NPC delegation and expressed appreciation for selecting the hospital for the commemorative exercise.
Director-General of the NPC, Dr. Abuh Mohammed also commended the Chairman’s leadership and donated additional gifts to the infants, supplementing those presented by Dr. Yusuf.
Chief Child Protection UNICEF Nigeria, Ms. Natalie McCauley emphasized the broader significance of birth registration, stating: “Every registered birth strengthens child protection. Every registered child becomes more visible to the systems designed to serve and protect them. And every child who is counted is one step closer to realizing their full rights and potential.”
On behalf of the mothers, Mrs. Gloria Kabari Mela thanked the NPC Chairman and his team for the gifts and for selecting their children for the live registration exercise, offering prayers for the delegation.
Other officials present included the FCT Territory Director, management staff, and the Chairman’s Technical Aides.