*Appreciates Sen. Douye Diri
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The Hon. Federal Commissioner in charge of the National Population Commission Mrs. Gloria Izonfuo, mni, has said that the delivery of a credible, reliable and acceptable census will accelerate developmental planning of Bayelsa State.
Mrs. Izonfuo made this known during a Stakeholders Summit on the 2023 Population and Housing Census organized by the Commission in the Banquet Hall of Government House in Yenagoa.
She explained that this maiden event marks a major milestone in the journey towards the first ever digital census in Nigeria.
According to her, the Stakeholders Summit provides the National Population Commission with the unique opportunity to proactively engage the good people of Bayelsa State and get some positive feedback and invaluable cooperation and support, so that together we can ensure the successful conduct of a credible, reliable and acceptable census in April 2023.
The Hon. Federal Commissioner also expressed her deep appreciation to His Excellency, Sen. Douye Diri, the Executive Governor of Bayelsa state for his support to the Commission in the preparatory activities towards the 2023 census, especially during the update of demarcated Enumeration Areas which has been fully carried out in all Local Government Areas in Bayelsa State, except for a few pockets of non demarcated areas.
“This underscores the deep appreciation of your Administration on the importance of demographic data for developmental planning and the commitment towards concrete improvement in the living standards of the people of the Bayelsa State”, she said.
Speaking further, Mrs. Gloria Izonfuo emphasized that the consistent support of the Executive Governor as ably represented at the summit is a source of inspiration to the entire Commission to deliver a credible, reliable and acceptable census that will drive the developmental planning of Bayelsa State.
“On behalf of the Chairman of the Commission, Hon Nasir Isa Kwarra, Your Excellency sir, I say thank you for your unprecedented support in recent times to the Commission”.
“I also want to thank you all, the State stakeholders, for the invaluable support you have given to the Commission and its field functionaries in our preparatory activities towards the 2023 Census in the Local Government Areas”.
“Our Traditional Rulers are our closest partners and they have been exceptionally supportive during this entire process . While we thank you all our Royal fathers for your support, we pray you continue to support us especially during the 2023 Population and Housing Census”, she said.
Mrs. Izonfuo also said that the National Population Commission convened the National Stakeholders Summit on 11th August 2022 at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
The objective of the summit which was declared open by President Muhammadu Buhari , GCFR was to broaden the national support base for the successful conduct of the exercise.
Following the successful conduct of the National Stakeholders Summit, she said it became imperative that we hold the state level stakeholders summit.
Accordingly, the summit is being convened in all the states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Mrs Izonfuo stated that the goal of the State Stakeholders Summit is to broaden state level support for the successful conduct of the 2023 Census with specific objectives to create public awareness on the conduct of the 2023 Census including its imperatives, methodology and timelines.
Other objectives of the summit includes the promotion of robust and informed conversation on the processes and procedures for the 2023 Census; to solicit the cooperation and support of state level stakeholders for the conduct of the 2023 Census and; and to provide a platform to offer clarification and receive feedback and suggestions on salient issues and concerns related to the conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census.
“The goal of Census taking is to ensure that the results are credible and acceptable hence the need for engagement with stakeholders to get their feedback on the instruments and to enrich the process”.
“In the recent past, the Commission has engaged many stakeholders including UN organizations, State Governors, the National Assembly, relevant MDAs, Traditional and Religious Leaders, Youth and Women Groups, Civil Society Organizations, Internally Displaced Persons communities, and Physically Challenged groups among others in the development of the census instruments and there was great stakeholders input into the instrument”.
Preparations for the conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census are in top gear and as part of efforts to deliver a credible and reliable census, the Commission is committed to ensuring that the results of the census are acceptable to Nigerians and the quality of the data to be generated meets international best standards for planning and developmental purposes”.
“In line with the United Nations principles and recommendations for the 2020 Round of Population and Housing Censuses, the 2023 Census will be fully digital and the Commission has deployed technology to conduct the exercise and enhance data quality”, she said.
The Hon. Federal Commissioner who was delighted at the gathering, assured Bayelsans that the Commission remains committed to the conduct of a credible , reliable and acceptable census that will be transformational and meet both local and international standards. In the 2023 Census, everyone will be counted once in the right way, at the right place and time, and for the benefit of all persons resident in Nigeria.
She therefore, called on all stakeholders to join hands with the National Population Commission in realizing the dream of providing the needed demographic data that will facilitate and place our State on the pedestal of sustainable development.
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