Ekiti NPC Federal Commissioner Hosts Journalists, Seeks Improved Cooperation 

By Emmanuel Adeoye

The Federal Commissioner in charge of the National Population Commission, NPC, from Ekiti State has solicited the continued cooperation of Journalists in Ekiti State towards the success of programmes of the Commission. 

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The Ekiti State Federal Commissioner, Honourable Ayodeji Ajayi while hosting the journalists in Ekiti State at his residence at Egbewa in Ado Ekiti, affirmed that the importance of media can not be quantified in any society.

Ajayi noted that the impact of the media would be needed at ensuring the census exercise takes place under a smooth and conducive atmosphere in the State.

He pleaded with Ekiti journalists to continue to join hands with him to sustain his good relationship with them in the State.

Speaking earlier at the event, the Ekiti  State Director of the National Population Commission, NPC, Mr Adebola Richard Oladipo, commended the Federal Commissioner representing Ekiti State in the Commission, in person of Honourable Ayodeji Ajayi for organizing the new year event to celebrate and interact with journalists in the State, to foster a sense of togetherness and team spirit between the media and the management staff of the National Population Commission in the State.

He appreciated the media for its power to shape public opinion and create awareness. 

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He used the opportunity to notify the people of Ekiti State on its preparation towards holding and completing the processes leading to the National Population Commission demographic and health survey exercise in 2024 which was suspended in 2023 by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. 

He went on to expressed the readiness of the Commission to collect quality data on fertility levels and preferences, contraceptive use, maternal and child health, childhood mortality, childhood immunization, breastfeeding and child feeding practices, women’s dietary diversity, violence against women and gender nutritional status of women and  children.

Others include the awareness regarding HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted infections, female genital mutilation, fistula tobacco use tuberculos disabilities, impact on maternal and neonatal health including antenatal and delivery care and treatment of pregnancy related conditions and other indicators relevant for the sustainable development goals. 

Also, he said, the exercise will afford the National Population Commission to access the nutritional status of women from age 15-49 years and children under age 5 through anthropometric measures, height and weight as well as the conduct of blood testing on women age 15 to 49 years and children age 6 to 59 months to estimate the prevalence of anaemia. 

The NPC Director in Ekiti State, Mr Oladipo revealed further that, starting from the 1st quarter of 2024, the Commission will commence the automation of the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, E-CVRS, aimed at assisting the NPC to intensify the campaign on the use of data for evidence – based planning in the Country. 

Also, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union Of Journalists, NUJ, Ekiti State Council, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi while making his remarks at the new year event for journalists in Ekiti State, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to as a matter of urgency intensified efforts towards ensuring he announced a new date for the Census exercise to take place in the Country in 2024. 

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Comrade Babatuyi expressed his gratitude on behalf of all the journalists in Ekiti State to the Ekiti Federal Commissioner, Honourable Ayodeji Ajayi for considering it necessary to host them. 

He however advised the management of the National Population Commission in Ekiti State to always communicate adequate information on the preparation towards the Census exercise to media professionals across the State. 

Giving their vote of thanks on behalf of the Ekiti journalists, the Emeritus Chairman of the NUJ, Comrade Rotimi Ojomoyela; the former Chairman of the Correspondent Chapel, Comrade Yaquob Popoola and the General Manager of the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, Mr Segun Ojelade appreciated the good gestures of Honourable Ayodeji Ajayi, the Federal Commissioner for the National Population Commission in Ekiti State to host journalists in the State in the new year. 

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Present at the event includes some  political appointees of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, the key officials of the National Population Commission in Ekiti State as well as some well referred Catholic Priests.

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