In a renewed partnership with the Lagos State Government to accelerate universal birth registration, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is targeting 545,000 newborns for registration this year.
Speaking at the Lagos State Multi-Sectoral Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Birth Registration, Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Mrs. Celine Lafoucriere, said every child’s right to identity begins with being registered at birth.
She noted that without registration, millions of Nigerian children remain invisible to the state.
Mrs. Lafoucriere disclosed that in September 2025, the National Population Commission (NPC), with UNICEF’s support, began distributing over 16 million birth certificates nationwide, with Lagos receiving the highest allocation more than 6 million certificates.
The UNICEF field chief explained that the current focus is on children under one year, as previous national drives had covered children under five.
She warned that unregistered children remain invisible in national statistics, affecting social protection and development planning, and may face inheritance and legal challenges later in life.
Written by Ngozi Okpala