In Abuja, during a one-day capacity building workshop for members of the National Census Publicity Committee in preparation for the 2023 Population and Housing Census, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, expressed his satisfaction with the National Population Commission’s efforts to conduct a credible census exercise. Represented by Dr. Garba Abari, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, the minister said the federal government is optimistic that the NPC would deliver a census exercise that meets international standards.
The minister added that the purpose of the workshop was to provide participants with the necessary information on the conduct of the 2023 census and to facilitate the effective discharge of their public enlightenment roles in the census national assignment. He emphasized that population census is a people-oriented activity that must inform, sensitize and educate all persons resident in Nigeria. Consistent and aggressive grassroots publicity is required to reach the people, and it is not just enough for the people to be counted. They must understand why, when, where and how they will be counted in order to secure their cooperation in the conduct of this exercise. Therefore, the role of the National Census Publicity Committee is crucial to undertake advocacy basics with key stakeholders at all levels of government to solicit support and mobilize resources for the successful conduct of the 2023 population and housing census.
Mohammed assured the Commission of the Ministry’s support in publicity campaigns for the census, including using all its existing structures and facilities. In addition, the NPC Chairman, Nasir Isa-Kwarra, stated that the Commission would rely on the Committee’s expertise and structures to drive the message into every home and household to drum up support and participation in the 2023 Population and Housing Census. Isa-Kwarra pointed out that the job before the Committee is significant because of the need to inform, educate and enlighten Nigerians on the scope of the census, which will involve the counting of every person resident in Nigeria and will take place simultaneously in every household in the country.
The National Census Publicity Committee was inaugurated on February 8, 2023, and includes the Chairman of the National Population Commission, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation (FRCN), the Director-General of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), and the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON). Others are the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, the Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), the Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), the President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the President of the National Council of Women Society (NCWS), the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), the President of the Market Women Association of Nigeria, a representative of Civil Society Groups, the Chairman of the Public Affairs Committee (NPC), the Chairman of the Census Committee (NPC), the Deputy Chairman of the Public Affairs Committee (NPC), the Chairman of the Census Committee (NPC), the Deputy Chairman of the Public Affairs Committee, the Chief Technical Adviser (CTA), the Director-General of NPC, the Census Manager, the Director of Census (NPC), and the Director of Public Affairs Department (NPC), who serves as the secretary.
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