By Charles Ogbonnaya.
Abia State Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu has declared open a one Day Capacity Building Workshop on Process And Methodology For the 2023 Population And Housing Census for the State Publicity Committe with a charge on the Publicity Sub Committee of the National Population Commission to contribute in redefining the estimated population figures credited to the State and Nation.
Sir Oko Chukwu who threw the challenge during the Workshop held at the Bishop Anthony Nwedo Pastoral Centre, Umuahia, said this has become necessary in respect to the about two million credited to Abia State which is grossly incorrect.
The Deputy Governor and Chairman of the State Publicity Committe reminded members of the Committe of the need to work assiduously to embark on aggressive enlightenment and sensitization programs that will change the negative narratives that had led to majority of Abia citizens boycotting previous population exercises.
He reiterates that the success of the exercise cannot be overemphasized as an accurate census population data is not only one of the indices Federal Government uses in appropriating revenue allocations but also aids Govt in ascertaining the age brackets of its citizens for the provision of adequate health care, education and basic infrastructure.
In her presentation titled “Processes And Methodology For 2023 Census, the State Director of National Population Commission, Lady Juliana Ezebuiro said an accurate Nigerian Census will attract profound international support, adding that the Commission ensured that the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) was mapped out professionally and scientifically to capture every house and families in the State and expressed confidence that success will be achieved.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner, Mr Jonny Nwanne Nwabuisi appreciated the Committee members for being part of the program and urged them to work very hard to actualize the success of the 2023 Housing and Population Census through the quality sensitization on radio and television stations.
In his presentation titled “Census Mapping And Enumeration Area Demarcation For 2023 Census, the HOD Technical, Mr Uduma Ukpai explained that the EAD also known as Census mapping and delineation of the whole country into compact and identifiable areas stipulated for the Census exercise and disclosed that they have completed mapping out the 17 LGAs of the State and 774 LGAs across the country.
