In order to encourage data upgrading for the upcoming population and housing census, the National Population Commission (NPC) is working in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.

This was the main message conveyed when the executive team of the NPC, led by Alhaji Nasir Kwarra, paid a courtesy call to Mrs. Uju-Kennedy Ohanenye, the Minister of Women Affairs, in Abuja.

Kwarra stated that the purpose of the tour was to progress the organization’s primary goal of collecting data.

He asserts that the ministry of women’s affairs is vital to the causes of disability, gender equality, child welfare, and other social issues.

As the population census offers the necessary demographic data broken down by age, sex, educational attainment, handicap, and other factors, the chairman noted that the population census is essential to the ministry’s mission.

“I would like to let you know that the NPC is getting ready to conduct the upcoming housing and population census, and we would want to highlight some of the preparatory actions and steps that the commission has made.

“The commission has created hybrid data collection tools and delineated the 774 local government areas throughout the federation’s states.

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“We have identified and mapped special populations, conducted a trial census, and carried out the first and second pre-tests of the census to test the enumeration regions and the questionnaire.

“In order to finalise and start presenting the final list of communities, chiefs, and local government chairmen, we have engaged in advocacy, publicity, and stakeholder engagement in conjunction with other national stakeholders.

“Every home, official facility, and unofficial facility where women and children live in Nigeria has been mapped out using geospatial data from the commission.”

According to Kwarra, the ministry would be the primary implementation agency for the planned situational analysis of vulnerable children in the nation, in which NPC would also be a partner.

For reappointing a few of the federal commissioners on the panel, he expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu.

The minister of women’s affairs responded by saying that the government is prepared to collaborate with the commission and that both institutions would gain from it.

As someone who is more in touch with the grassroots, Ohanenye remarked that she entered the position with a strong desire to change people’s lives.

To combat some of the most pressing issues facing the grassroots, unity is required. In order to combat poverty, Nigerians must be empowered and trained. I support the chairman of the NPC’s mission.

“With your assistance, we will create a map for our empowerment project. We will use NPC’s intelligence to enhance our data as well. Our goal is to improve the standard of living for common Nigerians.

I promise that all the resources needed to complete the duties will be used wisely if we organise ourselves.

Ohanenye vowed to collaborate, saying, “There is a need for planning before the resources will come.”

NAN