Nigeria has made major strides in giving children legal identities, with 14 million births officially registered over the past two years, UNICEF has announced.
The progress was highlighted by UNICEF Country Representative, Wafaa Abdelatef, during a visit to the the wife of te President, Oluremi Tinubu, at the State House in Abuja on Friday. She described birth registration as a fundamental right that ensures every child is counted and recognised.
“In just two years, 14 million children have been registered. This is a remarkable achievement and sets Nigeria apart compared to other countries where I have worked”, Abdelatef said.
She explained that the registration system is being digitalised across health facilities to make the process faster and more efficient. In addition, the National Assembly is reviewing supportive legislation to strengthen the framework for birth registration nationwide.
Abdelatef noted that strong leadership, partnership, and sustained collaboration have been key to scaling up registration, enabling more children to access essential services, protection, and recognition.
In response, Tinubu praised UNICEF’s ongoing support for Nigeria and emphasised the importance of ensuring every child is registered.
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