Dr. Eyitayo Oyetunji, the Federal Commissioner of the National Population Commission in Oyo State, has sworn the commission’s commitment to conducting a credible and acceptable census.

He made the promise on Wednesday in Ibadan during the Oyo State Stakeholders Summit on the 2023 Population and Housing Census-Get Involved. Newsmen report that the commission had organized the workshop to broaden the support base for the successful conduct of the 2023 census in the state. Oyetunji praised the state government for its support during the trial census, reiterating the commission’s resolve to conduct a credible census that would be acceptable to citizens.

He said that the stakeholders’ engagement was more necessary given the need to use digital methodology for the conduct of the census. “The need to engage all stakeholders is made even more paramount given the digital methodology which has resulted in the deployment of the latest relevant technology for the census. “The commission is set to conduct a fully digital census that is transformational and that will incorporate geo-referenced census data to meet the best international standards. “It will provide the data needs for the development aspirations of our nation,” he said. Oyetunji said that without buy-in from critical stakeholders, all technical efforts would be in vain, imploring them to all get involved.

He asked for the support of the state government in the creation of a platform for clarification and toward the successful conduct of the exercise. Mr. Bayo Lawal, the State Deputy Governor, commended the NPC for sensitizing the people and involving all stakeholders, saying such was a right step in the right direction. “This sensitization workshop being conducted by National Population Commission is a step in the right direction to really wake our people up to the challenges of the census. “Get us in the right mood, the right template, so that when we go into the national census, we will be aware of the importance of national census figures.

“We do not want to be going before the national population commission tribunal. We want to do it right from the beginning; that’s why this sensitization is key,” he said.

He promised the state government’s readiness to support the commission in the conduct of a credible and acceptable census.

“Whatever we need to do as a state, we must do to complement the efforts of the national population commission,” he said.

Some other stakeholders in their goodwill messages commended the commission for its efforts so far. They called on the commission to conduct a successful census and ensure accurate data that could help the nation plan very well.