Niger Delta
Bayelsa, Commission Sign MoU On Birth Registration
Bayelsa State Government and the National Population Commission (NPC) last Tuesday in Yenagoa signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of additional birth registration centres in the state.
NPC’s Federal Commissioner in Bayelsa, Mr. Austen Pabor, said at the ceremony that the integration of birth registration into the state’s health policy would generate accurate population data.
He regretted that the number of existing registration centres was grossly inadequate to capture the rapidly growing population of Bayelsa.
The NPC federal commissioner explained that all health institutions in Bayelsa would serve as vital registration centres for birth and death registrations under the MoU.
“The NPC will train officials of the state’s Ministry of Health on the registration process and provide birth certificates for issuance to new-born babies at health facilities across the state,’’ he said.
Pabor further said the widespread network of health facilities in Bayelsa would be harnessed to capture new births as a build-up to proper enumeration in future census exercise.
He pointed out that birth registration was an evidence-based way of collecting demographic data for arriving at population figures.
Responding, Commissioner for Health in Bayelsa, Dr Michael Awoli, said the signing of the MoU underscored the synergy between the federal and Bayelsa governments.
He said birth registration exercise would be of immense benefit to the state as it would generate reliable data for development planning.
“It will also ensure accurate population figures for the state in future,’’ the commissioner said.
He urged community leaders at the grass roots level to participate in the scheme. “It will ensure that people who do not patronise health facilities at the rural areas are registered,’’ Awoli said.
The state health commissioner also said the exercise would ensure that birth certificates were available.
“This will also help to reduce the dependence on the declaration of age certificates that were sworn to at the courts for official record purposes.
“So, I urge members of the public to preserve the birth certificates as it is a valuable and acceptable document,’’ he added.
Niger Delta
Make God Your Anchor To Fulfill Destiny, Cleric Charges Christians … As Jaja Marks 70th Birthday
The Lead Pastor at Jesus Appointed People’s Bible Church, Ozogbe, Ikwerrengwo-Etche, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Pastor Promise Nwaelele, has urged Christians to make God the anchor of their lives in whatever position they find themselves, in order to attain the destinies set for them by God.
Pastor Nwaelele, who gave the charge recently in a sermon he preached at the 70th birthday anniversary thanksgiving service of Sir Donald Michael Jaja, a veteran journalist in Rivers State, said this is because any genuine child of God is a permanent target for destabilization and destruction by the devil.
Taking his text from the Bible book of Mark 4:16-17, the preacher stated that fulfilment in life for a child of God required faith, obedience to God’s word, humility and grace to withstand trials and temptations.
According to him, temptations and afflictions are bound to happen in the lives of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
“No wonder the Bible said that those that endure till the end shall be saved”, he said.
The Clergyman said God prospers believers who are humble, not proud and conceited, and leads them to destiny fulfilment.
“David said in Psalm 51:17, that the sacrifices acceptable to God are a broken spirit, not an impatient or proud spirit”, the preacher said.
He called on Christians not to allow persecutions and afflictions to sway them from the love and blessings of Jesus Christ.
On his part, Jaja, a seasoned Journalist who retired as an Acting Editor of the Rivers State Government-owned The Tide Newspaper, gave thanks to God for honouring him by giving him the grace of attaining 70 years.
“I cannot capture what the good Lord has done for me in my entire life in this fleeting moment of thanksgiving. But, I know that without Him, I wouldn’t have been who I am today, in all spheres. Therefore, my joy knows no bounds as I give thanks to my creator today, alongside my family. Praise be His holy name”, Jaja said.
