The National Population Commission (NPC) has reaffirmed its commitment to conduct an accurate and generally accepted national digital population and housing census in 2022.
NPC’s chairman Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra reiterated the NPC commitments while declaring open a 5 days capacity building and workshop for Public Affairs Officers of the commission with the theme: “getting the people involved.” in Nasarawa State.
The NPC boss said that constant and effective engagement of the people through aggressive publicity and advocacy was are crucial first steps in attaining the commission’s mandate towards the upcoming national census.
Kwarra expressed the willingness of the commission to partner the public through constant dissemination of the right and timely information adding that effective engagement of stakeholders through advocacy constituted an integral and indispensable component of population intervention activities.
Kwarra expressed the commitment of the Commission under his leadership to train and retrain members of staff aimed at making the commission deliver effectively on its mandate.
He added: “The workshop will enhance the understanding of the public affairs officers at the headquarters and state offices towards acetate successful implementation of our mandates in the spheres of census across the country,” he said.
On his part, Dr. Eyitayo Oyetunji, Federal Commissioner for Oyo and Chairman NPC’s Public Affairs Committee, said that the workshop would promote collective participation of public officers and stakeholders from communities for a transparent and acceptable census.
“I want to charge you all to be the agent of the credible, acceptable census.”
Earlier, Mr. Silas Agara, Federal Commissioner for Nasarawa State welcomed the participants to the state wishing them a successful workshop while expressing the preparedness of the commission and state to deliver a transparent and credible census in 2022.
NPC’s Director of Public Affairs, Joe Udi highlighted the objective of the workshop “To enhance the understanding of public affairs officers across the 36 states of the federation offices on the strategic direction of the present commission and their expected roles.
” To identify critical stakeholders in the implementation of the commission’s activities and devise effective strategies for their engagement and To improve the technical competence and skills of PAD in handling basic advocacy and media among others.