NIN Sensitisation: Enugu Govt Takes Free Registration Campaign to Udenu
By Ngozi Agbo
The NIN sensitisation campaign train of the Enugu State Ministry of Information and Communication, led by the Commissioner, Dr Malachy Agbo, on Thursday, arrived at the Udenu Local Government headquarters, Obollo-Afor, with a call on residents to take advantage of the ongoing free National Identification Number, NIN, enrolment across the state.
Addressing a joint session of community leaders, Presidents-General, councillors, traditional rulers and other stakeholders, Agbo said the initiative was part of the administration of Governor Peter Mbah’s efforts to ensure that residents were captured in the national identity database and positioned to benefit from government interventions.
According to him, Governor Mbah, recognising the importance of NIN in accessing both Federal and state government interventions, had provided for free NIN registration across the state.
The Commissioner noted that technical challenges and other bottlenecks associated with NIN enrolment had prevented many indigent residents from registering in the past.
He therefore urged the people of Udenu to come out en masse, stressing that the state government had taken the registration exercise to their doorsteps and was providing the service free of charge.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Enugu State Agency for Universal Health Coverage, Dr. Edith Okolo, represented by Mrs. Chiamaka Okolie, underscored the importance of NIN in accessing the state’s Basic Health Insurance Scheme.
She explained that the scheme, which had been in existence since 2019, had not received adequate publicity across the state, adding that the agency was now working with NIN officials to ensure that vulnerable groups were captured and enabled to benefit from the programme.
She listed the target beneficiaries to include children under five years, persons with disabilities, elderly persons below 85 years, pregnant women, retirees below 65 years and extremely poor people in various communities.
In his welcome remarks, the Chairman of Udenu Local Government Area, Hon. Aka Eze Aka, described the initiative as a welcome development, noting that its importance to the people could not be overemphasised.
Aka Eze assured that his administration would provide the necessary logistics and support to ensure the success of the exercise throughout the local government area.
He commended Governor Mbah for what he described as his gestures towards the people of Enugu State, including residents of Udenu, and praised Commissioner Agbo for his efforts towards making the initiative a reality.
The event climaxed with an interactive question-and-answer session, during which participants sought clarifications on the NIN registration process and other related matters. The session also featured goodwill messages from stakeholders.
The Commissioner was accompanied by members of the ministry’s management team, including the Director of Administration and Supply, Ogochukwu Ozoagu; Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Mr Cletus Eze; Head, Publication and Graphics, Mrs Anthonia Okafor; Secretary, Udoka Chukwu; and Acting Head, Photos and Film, Paul Enemchukwu, among others.
EDITOR
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, as well as M.Sc Mass Communication at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is the immediate past NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
