The number of children whose births have been officially registered in Nigeria within the past two years has increased significantly to 14 million, UNICEF has announced.
The UNICEF Country Representative to Nigeria, Ms Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in her office at the State House, Abuja.
She commended the First Lady for her leadership, not only in the areas where UNICEF is working but also for impacting the lives of children and families across the nation.
“Birth registration, we look at it as the first right of every child to be counted, to be recognised, and it is really impressive. I have served in many places, but I have not seen, in two years, the kind of progress that has happened here in Nigeria.
“We have 14 million children whose births have been registered. The system is being digitised at the health facility and ward level as well. Combined with that, there is a bill before the National Assembly. Things don’t just happen like that; we scale with our leadership.
“I am really grateful to you for leading this area of birth registration and allowing us to celebrate this fantastic leadership.
“I have seen, since the end of last year, your efforts regarding the National Library and everything being done for the people. I was also at the launch of the Food Bank. I have personally witnessed, as an African woman, that our First Lady’s leadership has been commended across the continent at the African Union Summit, and I think that is very important for the whole continent beyond Nigeria. The Renewed Hope Agenda is truly giving hope to children and the people.”
First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in her remarks, acknowledged the impact of UNICEF in Nigeria, adding that birth registration ensures every child is registered immediately after birth. She stressed that child registration must continue until every Nigerian child is registered.
“Every child counts.”
She said every child has a right to a nationality and a legal identity, which would help integrate every child into the nation’s health services.
“What joy I have this morning to hear that birth registration is going on well. This is how nations develop.
“I won’t say that we are really there yet. For me, we have to keep at it and make sure that every child is counted. It is the beginning for us—not just birth registration alone—we are looking at birth certificates.
“Nigeria has not had a census in a long time, so we don’t really have a headcount. But if we start with the children, at least we would know the number of children to care for, and it would guide how the government can provide for its citizens.”
The First Lady, while expressing happiness over the scale of improvement in birth registration, further decried the high rates of Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and child and maternal mortality.
“Nigeria has a huge population. When it comes to Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and child and maternal mortality, the numbers are still high, and it is worrisome for me.
“However, we are not sitting with our hands folded. We are trying to do the best that we can to ensure that this administration is able to position Nigeria for what the future should hold for us.”
She appreciated UNICEF for supporting the country and promised to collaborate with the organisation as much as possible.
“In any area you want us to collaborate, we are here. We want to thank UNICEF for the interest and the work you have done. In the years that I have known UNICEF, they have always given us the right data to work with.”
SIGNED
Busola Kukoyi
SSA Media to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Friday, 20 February 2026
