Today, I had the honor of representing the Chairman ALGON National Chapter at a pivotal strategy meeting convened by ALGON in partnership with UNICEF, aimed at integrating Birth Registration Systems with Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) Services.
Held at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja, this gathering brought together ALGON State Chapter Chairmen across Nigeria to chart a transformative course for maternal and child identity rights at the grassroots.
In my capacity as Executive Chairman of Katsina Local Government, Secretary of ALGON Katsina State, and representative of both the State and National Chapter Chairman, I delivered a keynote address highlighting the urgent need to bridge the gap between birth and identity, to ensure that no Nigerian child is ever born unseen, uncounted, or unprotected.
Every birth must be recorded. Every child must be recognized. Their future begins with a name and a nation that knows it.
Through synergy with Traditional Birth Attendants, our frontline champions in rural maternal care, we can unlock:
•Accurate, real-time birth data
• Early access to healthcare, education, and legal protection
•Smarter, more equitable government planning and resource allocation
But to succeed, we must invest in:
•Training TBAs on civil registration
•Deploying mobile and digital technologies
•Driving cultural awareness and community trust
This is a policy shift, it is a moral and developmental imperative. It speaks to the dignity of governance at the grassroots, where every life begins.
Together with UNICEF and all ALGON chapters nationwide, we stand committed to rewriting the story of identity in Nigeria, starting from the very first cry of every newborn.