The Lagos State Government has launched a new E-Birth Registration Initiative in collaboration with UNICEF, the National Population Commission (NPC), and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), aimed at ensuring that every child born in the state is digitally captured in the national database.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the initiative will allow newborns’ data to be recorded immediately and linked to their National Identification Number (NIN), strengthening planning for healthcare, education, and overall development.
“Every child from zero to 12 months must be registered under the National Population Commission. With the E-registration, their data will be collected right from birth, and that is the way forward,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He urged all local government chairmen to intensify awareness in their communities, stressing that reliable population data is crucial for effective governance and service delivery.
UNICEF Lagos Field Office Chief, Celine Lafoucriere, commended the state for prioritising the digital transition, noting that birth registration gives children a legal identity and access to essential services. She cautioned that unregistered children become “invisible” and vulnerable.
“Without a birth certificate, a child cannot access healthcare properly, cannot enroll in school, and cannot get social services. They are invisible. And we know what happens to invisible children,” she said.
Lafoucriere revealed that Lagos already has a 94% birth registration rate for children under five but must continue reaching those in informal settlements and underserved communities. She noted that UNICEF is supporting the registration of 3.69 million children under one across 15 states—545,000 of them in Lagos this year.
Sanwo-Olu thanked development partners and reiterated that the digital initiative places Lagos on track to become the first state in Nigeria to achieve full birth registration coverage.
