2023 census-population data essential to development planning – Gov. Ganduje
Story from Sha’afatu DAUDA, Kano
Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has said that population data is essential to development planning and any government desirous of achieving development strides needs to know the number of people requiring certain amenities at a given time such as light, water, housing, health and education facilities.
“Population is a critical factor in nation building and attaining sustainable development,” he said.
Represented by his deputy and APC Gubernatorial Candidate, Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, the Governor stated this on Tuesday while addressing state stakeholders dummit on the 2023 population and housing census with the theme: “2023 Census-Getting People Involved” held at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano.
“The people are both the agents and beneficiaries of the development process, therefore knowledge of national population in terms of size, distribution and socio-economic characteristics is required for planning purposes, making the conduct of census one of the essential governance activities.
“We are delighted that the deployment of the art technology by the commission to ensure the conduct of the first fully digital census in Nigeria will enhance the data quality”.
He further said his administration requires a new data to drive the implementation of the recently launched revised National Policy on Population for sustainable development and other government policies in all human endeavour.
According to him, “In Kano we have the conviction that the National Population Commission (NPC) has the capacity and is ready to deliver to the country a reliable, credible and acceptable census come 2023.”
The Governor assured of his administration’s unflinching support and commitment in ensuring that the 2023 census exercise is successful and conducted for the benefit of all.
The Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, Kano Office, Dr Ismail Lawal Sulaiman explained that the goal of the census taking was to conduct an acceptable and credible exercise that will be transformational and meet the international standard, hence the need for engagement with the stakeholders to get their feedback on the instruments and to enrich the process.
In attendance were members of Kano State Executive Council, traditional rulers, members women and youth groups, development partners and civil society Organisations.
