The National Population Commission on
Monday, 27 March, 2023 engaged its management staff in a 3-Day workshop in Portharcourt , Rivers State Capital.The workshop centered on Census operations and processes in preparation for the 2023 Population And Housing Census
Delivering a keynote address at the occasion, Chairman of Commission, Hon.Nasir Isa Kwarra, said the objective of the workshop was to enhance technical and management capacity and skills of top functionaries of the Commission.
NPC Chairman said”This workshop couldn’t have come at a better time as the Commission prepares for the 2023 Population and Housing Census. The conduct of the workshop marks another milestone in the determination of the Commission to conduct an accurate, reliable and acceptable digital census.
“The workshop seeks to achieve the following objectives:
– To provide members of the Commission and Management with the end-to-end knowledge of the Census operations and processes.
-To acquaint the members of the Commission and Management of their roles and responsibilities within the Census workflow.
-To develop effective synergy of operations between the states and the headquarters for the 2023 Census.
-To guide the members of the Commission and Management on effective advocacy, publicity and sensitization strategies.
-To understand and develop proper stakeholder engagement strategy for the Census and;
– To chart a course for the successful implementation of the 2023 Population Census.
“The Commission is an integral and essential structure of National Population Commission. Beyond providing administrative leadership in the states, they also develop policies and guidelines that determine the operations of the entire organization.
“Being the first point of call in the states and headquarters, the members of the Commission and management are supposed to be endowed with the understanding of all the administrative and technical concepts of the Commission so as to provide proper coordination and guidance for all Commission’s activities especially the 2023 Population and Housing Census.
“Census taking and other mandates of the Commission are very complex exercise that requires adequate skills and deep knowledge on the part of those who have the onerous task of generating policies that will guide their successful outcome.
“The human population to be counted is large and the information to be collected is numerous in view of the need to provide a wide range of data for planning purposes. There is also the need to process, store and disseminate the data in appropriate format for data users. There is no way this huge task can be undertaken unless the functionaries are properly trained and retrained for this complex assignment. The conduct of this training workshop is therefore a step in the right direction in boosting the professional, manpower base and management strategy of these policy makers for the next Population and Housing Census.
“This training program, which has Chairman, HFCs, DG, CTA, HQ Directors, National Coordinators and all Heads of Census Operations, Technical and Support Staff and Technical and Personal Assistants as participants, is of crucial importance to the successful conduct of the census. As you are aware, the Board of the Commission is the highest decision making organ that is charged with the responsibility of providing broad policy direction, strategies and guidelines for the implementation of the census and other population related activities. The implementers of these decisions are the management, thus, it is expected that knowledge and experience to be gained at this workshop will equip members with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively drive the 2023 Population and Housing Census and other activities of the Commission to a logical conclusion.I therefore urge participants to devote maximum attention to deliberations at this workshop.
“We must remain open to fresh ideas and innovations that can make positive impact on the functions of the Commission and which can make the next census accurate, reliable and acceptable. We must explore strategies on how to adapt some of the methodologies to our local environment with a view to making sound decisions for the success of the 2023 census. It is my hope that the deliberations at this workshop will also impact positively on all aspects of the preparations and execution of Nigeria’s next Digital Population and Housing Census exercise”.
Hon.Kwarra also seized opportunity to assured Nigerians and development partners that the Commission remained committed to the conduct of an accurate, reliable and acceptable census that will provide demographic data for sustainable national planning and socio economic development.
“With the successful completion of the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD), the conduct of the first and second census pre-test exercises and the trial census and other preparatory activities going on smoothly, preparations for the next census are on course. The Commission will leave no stone unturned to bequeath a legacy of accurate, reliable and acceptable census to the nation.
“I wish to commend the facilitator of this workshop for their efforts in seeing to its successful take-off. While wishing all participants fruitful deliberations and rewarding learning experience at this workshop, it is my hope that we will bring to bear the Knowledge and the skills gained for the successful conduct of the first Digital Census in Nigeria.
“You Count, Be Counted”.He assured.
The workshop was organised by the Honourable Federal Commissioner representing Rivers State at the National Population Commission, who also doubled as the 2023 Census Committee Chairman, Hon. Dr. Ipalibo Harry PhD, in conjunction with the Rivers State Office of the National Population Commission.
During the Workshop, presentations were made on various aspects of the Census process, and there
was interactive sessions where participants had the opportunity to discuss the papers and
issues presented with a view to enhancing synergy in the implementation of the Census process.
The Workshop had in attendance; the National Chairman of NPC, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra FNSA, NPC Honourable Federal Commissioners of the 36 states of the Federation, NPC Directors, representative of the Rivers State Government, representative of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, Distinguished Media Personalities, etc.
The workshop is designed to provide HFCs with a robust end-to-end update on the entire Census processes and architecture, and to further facilitate and enhance their readiness to provide effective coordination and guidance for all Commission’s activities especially the 2023 Population and Housing Census.
