LAGOS, UNICEF PARTNER TO MAKE EVERY CHILD COUNT WITH UNIVERSAL BIRTH REGISTRATION

UNICEF and the Lagos State Government are teaming up to ensure every child in Lagos is registered at birth—the first crucial step to protecting their rights and unlocking access to healthcare, education, and social services. At a recent Multi-Sectoral Stakeholders’ Dialogue, UNICEF’s Chief Celine Lafoucriere hailed Lagos for its impressive 94% under-five birth registration, the highest in Nigeria, while acknowledging challenges remain for newborns and hard-to-reach communities.

With over six million birth certificates distributed to Lagos alone last year, UNICEF and state agencies are focusing on outreach, training health workers, and boosting awareness to close gaps. Stakeholders highlighted that unregistered children remain invisible in national data, affecting their future access to justice and support. The dialogue ended with a commitment to a Lagos State Birth Registration Action Plan, aiming for full registration coverage integrated into health and education systems by the end of the year.