FIRST LADY SEN OLUREMI TINUBU WELCOMES AND PRESENTS BIRTH CERTIFICATE TO FIRST BABY OF THE YEAR 2025

Yesterday, 1st January 2025, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, the First Lady of Nigeria officially welcomed and presented a birth certificate issued by the National Population Commission to the first newborn of the year, Chioma Favour Odion, at the Asokoro General Hospital, Abuja. The baby, a female was born to the family of Mr. Odion Oyigbo and Mrs. Chioma Odion at exactly 12:27am on the first day of January 2025, weighing 3.6kg.

Representing the First Lady, Hajiya Nana Shettima, wife of the Vice President, reaffirmed the administration's commitment to improving living conditions for Nigerian children. Mrs. Tinubu emphasized the government's dedication to creating an environment where every Nigerian child can thrive and achieve their potential.

During the celebration, the First Lady offered prayers for the newborns and encouraged parents to cherish and nurture their children, highlighting their roles as both blessings and future leaders of Nigeria.

She presented gifts and cash to baby Chioma and other newborns delivered that day at the Asokoro General Hospital.

The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC) Hon. Nasir Isa Kwara while speaking to journalists after the First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu presented a birth certificate to the first baby of the year at Asokoro General Hospital, noted the significance of registering and issuing birth certificates to newborns, stating it is a crucial step towards ensuring every Nigerian child has a foundational and legal identity.

Represented by the Federal Commissioner, Katsina State, Engr. Bala Banye, the Chairman explained that the Commission would leave no stone unturned until every child born in Nigeria is registered and offered a birth certificate.

He said with the digitization of the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics system and collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the NPC aims to ensure that children, regardless of their birthplace are registered. He stated that the new e-birth certificate includes a National Identity Number (NIN) and called on all parents and guardians to register their children, as it is entirely free.

The NPC Chairman further noted that the Commission successfully registered over 10 million under-5 children in its birth registration drive in 2024. He applauded UNICEF, the Office of the First Lady, and other partners for their support and for ensuring the success of the initiative.

The Director General of the NPC, Dr. Osifo Tellson Ojogun announced plans to establish over 4,000 additional registration centers nationwide, making it easier for families to register their children.

The DG emphasized the importance of utilizing modern technology to ensure that every registered child has a unique and secure identity.

Dr. Ojogun expressed gratitude to the First Lady, represented by Hajiya Nana Shettima, for her involvement in the birth registration initiative. He also urged Nigerians to register their deaths with the NPC to maintain an accurate population register.

Earlier, the Acting Chief Medical Director of Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Rosemary Nwokorie, while welcoming the First Lady and the NPC Officials, commended President Bola Tinubu administration for its unwavering commitment to transforming the nation's health sector, with a view to improving the healthcare services for every Nigerian.

Dr. Nwokorie applauded the First Lady for creating various intervention programmes, especially the Renewed Hope Initiative Project, to assist vulnerable Nigerians, especially women and children, and to ensure the birth registration and certification of children aged 0 to 5 in the country.

Other key NPC officials present during the ceremony include, Director, Public Affairs Department, Erelu Taibat Yemi Oloruntoba; FCT Territorial Director, Mr. Salihu Isah and other NPC technical staff. Also in attendance were the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Mandate Secretary for Women and Children Affairs, Mrs. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi; Chief Operating Officer, Barnksforte Technologies Limited, Mr. Ibrahim Suleiman; and representative of UNICEF Nigeria amongst others.

Meanwhile, this event follows the launch of the Renewed Hope Initiative Project to Accelerate Birth Registration at Scale in Nigeria by the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu on 29th August 2024.