During the week under review, Dr. Yusuf’s engagements focused on strengthening collaboration with key government institutions, traditional authorities, students, and NPC staff, as part of preparations for the forthcoming Population and Housing Census and the enhancement of the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system.
“While this ceremony has traditionally taken place at the national level, from next year, we hope to replicate it in all states. We want First Ladies in the states to partner with our Federal Commissioners and State Directors to register and celebrate the first babies of the year.”
As the Special Assistant on Media to the NPC Chairman, Mr. Nwosu is expected to manage and promote the public image of the Chairman and the Commission, ensuring the dissemination of timely, accurate, and engaging information to foster public trust in NPC data and Nigeria’s population management processes.
In their separate remarks, Generals Babangida and Abubakar commended the NPC Chairman and his team for their dedication to national service. They urged the Commission to remain steadfast in delivering accurate and credible population data, noting that reliable demographic information remains critical for effective planning, policy formulation, and sustainable national development.
A respected grassroots politician, Dr. Yusuf was the Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Governor of Niger State from 2019 to 2023. In 2022, he played a strategic role as Assistant Director, Grassroots Mobilization (North Central) for the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.
As he turns 66, these 66 milestones bear witness to a life dedicated to service, nation-building, and innovation.
It is gratifying to note that the next census will be biometric-based and will not only generate verifiable data of Nigeria’s population, but will also provide geo-coordinates for where everyone resides or is counted. The evidence-based statistics will guide INEC in accurately delineating constituencies, reapportioning legislative seats, creating polling units, planning elections, and managing electoral logistics.
The upcoming biometric Population and Housing Census presents a unique opportunity to create a digital National Population Register. This register would strengthen the e-CRVS system and integrate biometric data from various agencies to streamline the identification of deceased registrants, ensuring accurate sharing of official death records with INEC, thus allowing for the removal of deceased voters from the register.
Kwarra has prioritized capacity building within the Commission. He initiated training programmes aimed at equipping staff with the necessary skills to handle modern data collection and analysis techniques. This investment in human capital has not only improved the efficiency of the NPC but has also fostered a culture of continuous learning and development. He approved training and retraining for members and staff of the Commission including drivers to build capacity and close skill gaps. 61,548 personnel were trained on census methodology and process.
