…as NPC Commissioner calls for cooperation

By Adekola Afolabi

The National Population Commission (NPC), has inaugurated Ondo state Census Publicity and Advocacy Committee to propagate census information across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.

Ondo state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu while inaugurating the committee on Wednesday at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office Alagbaka, Akure, charged members to adequately educate, inform and sensitize the people of Ondo state on the processes and methodology for the conduct of the year 2023 Population and Housing Census.

The 2023 Population and Housing Census will be conducted between May 2nd and 7th.

Members of the Committee include the Chairman/CEO, Owena Press Limited, publishers of the Hope titles, Sir Ademola Adetula; the Chairman, OSRC Media Group, Mr Kunle Adebayo represented by Taiwo Ibitoye; the General Manager, NTA Akure, Mrs Olubunmi Oke, other heads of Media organisations in the state; the NUJ Chairman, Ondo State Council, Prince Leke Adegbite; among several others.

The Committee also has as its members, Chairman, League of Imams and Alfas in Ondo State, Sheikh Ahmad Aladesawe; Ondo State CAN Chairman, Rev. Fr. Anselm Ologunwa; Chairman, Ondo State Council of Obas and Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi; members of Ondo State House of Assembly; leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the Iyalajes/ Iyalojas, among others. Mrs Odunayo Olubayode is the Secretary of the Committee.

Governor Akeredolu explained that the
Inauguration of the Ondo State Census Publicity and Advocacy Committee became necessary to create a veritable platform to enlighten residents on the need to embrace the census for societal advancement.

Akeredolu who was represented by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs. Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, noted that the programme will enable government at the State and Federal levels ascertain the exact demographic data of the citizens for adequate planning and development purposes.

At the event, the NPC Federal Commissioner representing Ondo State, Prince Diran Iyantan, said the overreaching vision of the 2023 Census is to produce accurate, reliable and inclusive data that will be used for planning and critical programme interventions.

Iyantan added that the purpose of the programme is to get information about everyone living in the country, even as he solicited the cooperation and support of all and sundry to achieve the desired results.

Other stakeholders who spoke at the event promised to utilize full structure and personnel across the 18 council areas to get the people involved to support the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

They added that all hands must be on deck to make the exercise a successful one.

They pledged their determination to reach every nook and cranny of the State for the overall gains of the exercise to be achieved

The event was also attended by other top officials of the NPC in the state.