Kaduna Govt. seeks media support for hitch-free 2023 census exercise

Kaduna Govt. seeks media support for hitch-free 2023 census exercise

By: Our Correspondent

The Kaduna State Government on Tuesday solicited the support of media organizations to sensitize and educate residents of the state on the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

Hajiya Umma Aboki, Commissioner for Planning and Budget Commission, made the appeal at the opening of a one-day sensitization workshop for the Census Media and Publicity Sub-committee in the state.

The State Government, in collaboration with the National Population Commission (NPC), inaugurated Media and Publicity and Security Sub-committees in March to ensure a smooth exercise.

Aboki said that to ensure the successful conduct of the exercise, scheduled for May 3 to May 5, residents must be sensitized, educated, and enlightened on the processes to keep them prepared.

The commissioner, in particular, said that residents need to know the key information that would be required of them to ensure data quality and credibility.

“As such, we need the support of media organizations in the state to ensure the success of the exercise.

“The residents need information about how the census will be conducted and the kind of information they will be required to provide.

“Therefore, the media are critical partners that will help us spread the needed information and mobilize the people to actively participate to ensure a hitch-free exercise,” she said.

The State Director of the NPC, Hajiya Adama Uthman, said that media sensitization and mobilization were critical to the success of the exercise and appealed for the cooperation of media organizations.

“We cannot work without the media. We need them to communicate critical messages and information to the members of the public.

“That is, we are here for the media team to review what they know so far and what other information they need to effectively carry out their task,” she said.

She appealed to the residents of the state to cooperate with the enumerators for a successful exercise.

Earlier, Dr. Isiaka Yahaya, Director of Public Affairs at the NPC, said that the main objective of the workshop was to improve the capacity of journalists to effectively report the process and outcome of the exercise.

Yahaya, who was represented by Malam Alkasim Bala, Public Affairs Officer, added that the workshop was also to increase media coverage of the exercise to keep people informed in real-time.

According to him, sensitization will keep people informed, educated on the processes, refute negative perception, and enhance acceptability of the exercise and its outcome.

Malam Bashir Ladan, Deputy Director of State Planning, PBC, and Secretary of the Media and Publicity Sub-committee, explained that the committee was saddled with the responsibility of coordinating media sensitization and enlightenment activities.

According to him, the committee is expected to facilitate and coordinate the production and airing of radio and television jingles, articles, and feature stories in print and online media, among other media products.

“The measure is to keep residents informed and prepared for the success of the exercise in the state.”