The Stakeholders’ Summit on the forthcoming census has been held in Ondo State.
The event which took place at the Nigerian Medical Association’s hall in Akure, the Ondo State capital was organized to educate the stakeholders on the need to support Census 2023.
Participants were welcomed by the Ondo state Commissioner for Budget and Planning. In his presentation, the NPC Honourable Federal Commissioner representing, Ondo State, Prince Diran Iyantan said the purpose of the summit was to create awareness, promote national conversation, convince citizens to make themselves available for ennumeration and solicit the support and cooperation of key stakeholders in the 2023 Population and Housing Census as well as creating room for suggestions on issues relating to the 2023 Census.
He said the state came 3rd in the Trial census exercise ratings. He appreciated the stakeholders for their support. Declaring open the summit was the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu represented by his deputy, Lucky Ayedatiwa who acknowledged that census is critical to the development of any nation, retriating the state government’s support towards the success of the exercise.
All segments of the society were well represented, present were 3 Commissioners from the State Government, all 18 LGA Chairmen, the 18 leaders of the LGA legislative house, over 18 traditional rulers, led by the Deji of Akure, the Chairman, Ondo state traditional rulers council (represented), heads of all the security agencies (Military, Police, NSCDC etc), MDAs (NOA, Immigration, Customs etc) academia, trade union Congress, market women, People living with disabilities, CSOs, Corporate bodies and the Nigerian Youth Council.
In their goodwill messages, they all emphasised the importance of census in the development of the society and their readiness to support the Census while calling on the Commission to consider them for active participation in the exercise.
Highlights of the event includes the decoration of the Deputy Governor with the chest tag “2023 Census, You Count,Be Counted”, paper presentations, drama and cultural display and airing of documentary showing the journey so far and how prepared the Commission is about the coming Census, come 2023.