By James Shim
Commissioner representing Benue State at the National Population Commission (NPC), Barr Patricia Kupchi has sued for sustained synergy with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for the success of next year’s population census.
Barr Kupchi, who made the appeal Monday in Makurdi in an interactive session with the organizations said “where the commission may not reach, the CSOs may be there to ensure the success of the exercise.”
She explained that the interactive session was to rub minds on how best they could be involved for a successful census next year and commended them for the impact they have been making for the development and growth of the state and beyond.
The commissioner said next year’s census was promising to be a great tool for planning and development, noting that the just concluded trial census was timely delivered in the state and saluted the commitment of critical stakeholders during the exercise.
Barr Kupchi, who announced that the census would be starting in April next year also reminded the public of the commission’s constitutional mandate of registering birth and death of citizens and called for more advocacy in that regard.
She assured of more regular meetings with the groups, appealing that the organizations help in sensitization for the programme. “You count, be counted,” she added.
She also told the CSOs and NGOs that, “now that I have found you I know that I have conquered Benue.”
In a reaction, the Coordinator of Benue Non Governmental Organization Network (BENGONET), Mrs Shimenenge Kyaagba called for adequate involvement of the organizations in the process of the actual census and other related activities handled by the commission.
Others who spoke during the event including Dr Helen Teghtegh, Coordinator CSOs; Victoria Esa, Member CSOs; Mrs Elizabeth Jeiyol and Lady Gladys Shaahu all commended Barr Kupchi for making sacrifices for a dependable census and reaffirmed their commitment to work together to support the commission to get accurate data that will be reliable for planning and development.
