By Muhammad Sani Abdulhamid
Gamawa, Bauchi – The National Population Commission (NPC) has called on residents of Gamawa Local Government Area in Bauchi State to prioritise the registration of births to enhance healthcare planning, educational opportunities, and community development.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting in Gamawa, the NPC Head in Gamawa Local Government, Mohammed Sani Adamu, emphasised the critical role of community stakeholders including traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agencies, and youth groups in ensuring the success of birth registration and population enumeration exercises.
“Birth certificates are the first official documents a child should receive, which will support access to education and other services in their future,” Adamu explained.
He noted that the low uptake of birth certificates in the area was largely due to a lack of awareness about its importance, stressing that stakeholders’ support would help drive demand for the certificates before any payment policies are introduced.
Adamu added that accurate birth registration will aid in determining the actual population of the area, which is essential for equitable resource allocation from the federal government.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Gamawa Local Government, represented by the Director of Planning, Barrister Abdullahi Adamu, highlighted the collaboration between the local government and the NPC in executing development programmes for the community.
“All developed countries leverage their population size for technological and economic growth. Census helps governments identify the needs of their people, such as hospitals and roads,” he stated.
Barrister Adamu urged traditional rulers and community leaders to mobilise residents and raise awareness about the importance of the census, especially as preparations advance for the 2026 population and housing census.
He expressed concern that some residents in rural communities often dismiss census activities as irrelevant to their needs, underscoring that accurate data on population size is essential for securing development interventions.
In his remarks, the Galadiman Gamawa, Alhaji Muhammad Kaku Adamu, expressed satisfaction over the stakeholders’ engagement, noting that it was the first time community leaders were formally invited to learn about their role in promoting birth registration and census participation.
“The birth certificate is an official confirmation of citizenship, showing where a person was born and who their parents are. It is also a vital document required by students for proving indigene status and for processing other essential documents,” the Galadima said.
He assured that traditional leaders would support the campaign through community announcements and grassroots mobilisation to ensure residents understand the importance of obtaining birth certificates for their children.
The National Population Commission expects that with stakeholders’ cooperation, the number of unregistered children in Gamawa will reduce, while providing accurate data to the government for planning in healthcare, education, and other development sectors across Bauchi State.