The National Population Commission, NPC, Anambra State, has organized a one-day capacity building workshop for journalists on effective reporting of the 2023 population and housing census.
The workshop with the theme “Getting the People Involved”, was held at the Industrial Training Fund, ITF, Hall Awka, and was attended by media practitioners and executives.
In his keynote address, the Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, Anambra State, Mr. Chidi Ezeoke, stated that effective and consistent engagement with the media is a critical step towards achieving the commission’s constitutional mandate of national planning.
The Commissioner, who reminded stakeholders that the Population and Housing Census will be held from twenty-ninth March to second April 2023, stated that the Commission requires the support of all stakeholders in order to deliver credible and reliable data for sustainable development planning.
Mr. Ezeoke noted that this year’s eercise will take a digital and scientific approach to data generation, and stated that the training workshop for journalists was to demonstrate the commission’s determination to effectively mobilize the citizenry.
In their separate remarks, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Paul Nwosu, and his Culture, Tourism and Entertainment counterpart, Comrade Don Onyenji, stated that the 2023 National Population and Housing Census is important to Anambra people, recalling that in the past, the exercise was taken with unseriousness due to lack of information, adding that it is the responsibility of journalists to help the people realize its importance for effective planning and development in Nigeria.
They urged journalists to play a role in ensuring that accurate data is delivered for sustainable planning.
On his part, the Director of Anambra State NPC, Dr. Joachim Ulasi, stated that involvement of journalists is required for the methodology of the 2023 census to be understood for effective and accurate publicity, noting that accurate information about the exercise will not be passed without the media.
In a vote of thanks, the NPC Head of Technical Department, Mrs. Chinyere Maduagwuna, thanked the Anambra State government for taking the 2023 National Population and Housing Census seriously , as well as everyone who participated in the workshop.
The workshop featured paper presentations, as well as question and answer session.
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