NPC trains Anambra Journalists for 2023 population and housing census

By Chioma Abigail Mbah

The National Population Commission ,Anambra State office recently organized a one day training for journalists in the state for the 2023 population and housing census.

Mr Chidi Ezeoke, mini, KSM, the Federal Commissioner of National Population Commission,on the 21st February 2023 asked the media to continue to supoport activities lined up for the census to be a success as great partners.

Ezeoke who presented as address at.the trainingworkshop said: ” I am delighted to welcome the distinguished gentlemen of the press to a day capacity building workshop organized by the national population Commission for journalists on effective reporting of the 2023 population and housing census with the theme: GETTING THE PEOPLE INVOLVED”.

He told the members of the press that the commission has conducted the first and second census pre-test, trial census and trial post enumeration survey exercises to test the census instruments in preparation for the census proper. Therefore the convening of this training workshop for journalists in Anambra state is one of such engagement and it underscores the determination and commitment of the commission to conduct a successful population and housing census in 2023 by engaging the media to effectively mobilize the citizenry by ” Getting the people involved”.

The Enumeration Area Demarcation for the 2023 population and housing census presentation was done by TPL Dr Ulasi J.O.J ,.the State Director of NPC.

He said: ” In the line with the UN recommendations for the 2020 round of censuses that countries should leverage on digital tool for the conduct of census, the 2023 Nigeria Population and housing census, Nigeria first digital census- will employ innovative digital tools and procedures to improve the census taking process. These tools have been adopted and integrated in census processes which includes Enumeration.

He also said,”before you start a census ; you must be objective, you will demarcate the country into small assignment areas that an enumerator will cover during census or survey exercise, developing a sustainable skilled workforce in terms of technological know how and competence in planning and administering census mapping and upgrading the census cartographic frame to an internationally acceptable standard”. In 1991, the population of successful seamless grid of census EA and SA map frame for Nigeria, 2006 Gis for census mapping but with challenges and then 2022 development of sustainable national geographical frame. So, the use of Geospatial data in census mapping has upgraded census maps from instruments of area of assignment location to roles cutting across all the stages of census and survey- pre Enumeration stage- Enumeration stage- and result dissemination stage.

Dr Ulasi , furthermore talked about the EAD outcomes, the deliverables, organizations involved and the EAD strategies.

Mrs Chinyere Maduagwuna, the Deputy Director of NPC, defined population and housing census as the overall process of collecting, processing, tabulating , analysing and publishing the demographic, economic and social data of the population and housing units in a specific country.

She brought to the notice of the press, the main objectives of the PHC, their methods and instruments to be used( the NPC questionnaire highlights).

An ICT program Analyst, Mr Henry Ananti spoke on technological innovations in the 2023 population and housing census, the goals of technology adoption which is to track and ensure complete coverage of the country during census.

Nweke Rose(Mrs), Public Affairs Officer, highlighted on the history of population census in Nigeria. It was two parts viz; pre- colonial census post- independent census first conducted by Prime minister Abubakar Tafewa Balewa in Nigeria.

The Anambra state Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu PhD presented to the press how to generate media contents on the 2023 population and housing census, elements of media contents and NPC perspectives which includes to inform ( why, when, what and where), to educate ( how). He presented a paper from NPC’s Director of Media.