Birth registration is a fundamental right that establishes a child's legal identity and nationality. Without it, children face significant barriers to accessing basic services and protections. In Nigeria, where an estimated 57% of children under five lack birth certificates, the consequences are far

The initiative is expected to expand in phases, with a focus on reaching remote and underserved communities. Plans include deploying mobile registration units to areas with limited access to government offices and training more local registrars to handle the increased demand. The partners are also e

Nigeria Launches Push to Register Every Child at Birth

Nigeria has intensified efforts to ensure universal birth registration through a partnership between the National Population Commission, National Identity Management Commission, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, and UNICEF. The initiative aims to provide every child with a legal identity from birth, addressing gaps in documentation that affect access to healthcare, education, and social services. With millions of unregistered children in Nigeria, the collaboration seeks to strengthen systems at local and national levels to improve coverage and data accuracy.

Nigeria has launched a coordinated effort to register every child at birth, bringing together key government agencies and UNICEF. The National Population Commission, National Identity Management Commission, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, and UNICEF are leading the initiative, which aims to eliminate gaps in birth registration across the country.

The partnership focuses on strengthening registration systems at local government levels, where many births occur outside formal health facilities. Currently, millions of Nigerian children remain unregistered, leaving them without legal identity and vulnerable to exclusion from essential services like healthcare, education, and social protection programs.