The First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to safeguarding vulnerable populations through sustained interventions targeting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, cervical cancer, syphilis, hepatitis B, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), and vaccine-preventable diseases.
She noted that sustained collaboration between federal and state actors, development partners, and community based structures has contributed to measurable progress in public health outcomes across the country.
The First Lady made the remarks after receiving the Country Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Ms. Wafaa Elfadil Saeed Abdelatef, who provided updates on child-focused interventions and civil registration efforts in Nigeria.
During the meeting, UNICEF disclosed that 14 million children have been officially registered at birth in the past two years a significant increase aimed at strengthening legal identity systems and expanding access to essential services.
Describing the development as encouraging, the First Lady said birth registration remains fundamental to national planning and child protection.
“Registering a child at birth is the first step toward securing access to healthcare, education, and other social services. It safeguards identity and ensures that no child is left behind,” she stated.
She commended development partners, the 36 State First Ladies, Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Coordinators, and the FCT Coordinator for their roles in supporting advocacy, awareness, and community mobilisation efforts that have driven progress at the grassroots level.
According to her, the combined advances in disease prevention and birth registration demonstrate the impact of coordinated and sustained action.
“These milestones reflect our shared commitment to improving the wellbeing of women and children across Nigeria,” she said.
The First Lady emphasized the Federal Government’s commitment to sustaining health interventions and civil registration reforms, expressing confidence that ongoing collaboration with partners will accelerate progress toward achieving the 2030 global targets.