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The National Population Commission, NPC, today Monday began a ten day workshop for the field personnel ‘enumerators’ that would conduct the trial census scheduled for July 20 to 24.
The trial census is an exercise, designed to test-run the technical and other arrangements put in place by the commission ahead of the 2023 Population and Housing Census.
Declaring the session open in Ilorin, the National Chairman of the NPC, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, who was represented by the Federal Commissioner, Kwara state, Alhaji AbdulRasaq Gidado, said the workshop was meant to train the enumerators on the conduct of the trial census.
“The Trial census, also known as the census dress rehearsal is one of the pre-census activities. It is a process in which all census operations are tested in a detailed and comprehensive manner.
“This takes place, ideally and as a matter of best practice, one year ahead of the actual census date when major external circumstances, such as season (weather), holiday periods, and school year schedule, can be expected to be similar to the situation when the census proper will be conducted.
“The objectives include critically and comprehensively assess the quality and usefulness of Enumerated Area (EA) maps that have been created and determine the possible demographic as well as geographical changes that might have occurred in the EAs carved between 2016 to 2019 and their implication for census taking.
“Determining the feasibility of uploading EA maps on the census app for house numbering and household listing as well as population enumeration.
“Determining the correlation between AD estimated population and the pre-test enumerated population; determining the requisite educational qualification for the 2023 census’ enumerators, determining the appropriateness of the estimated workload of the enumerators, determining the necessary logistics support that might be required from the states and LGAs” he said.
The chairman further disclosed that the trial census would cover 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with six LGAs selected from six states in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria for full population enumeration.
Forty-five EAs, he explained had also been selected from each of the remaining thirty States and the FCT for the exercise.
“In total, 4,608 EAs have been selected for this trial census to test run their suitability and readiness for the actual census.
“The quality of the personnel for the trial census has a great impact on its outcomes. The need to properly train the enumerators and supervisors at the state level cannot therefore be over-emphasized.
“For the next few days, participants will be taught the rudiments, alongside the necessary skills with practical demonstrations of operations in the field, with the overall effort to deliver a truly scientific Trial Census that can prepare the ground for a credible and acceptable census next year”
Disclosing the local government areas that will be covered in Kwara state, the NPC boss mentioned Ilorin South, Ilorin East and Asa in the central with Oyun, Ekiti and Oke-Ero in the South, while the census rehearsal would take place in Edu, Moro and Baruteen for the Kwara North.
Responding to questions from Journalists on the security of personnel that would be deployed to the field, he said the arrangement had been made with all the security agencies and locals, urging the enumerators to be of good behaviour while on the field.
“To the functionaries, we must all behave well while on the field, first from your appearance and approach to every household, you must know that your behaviour will go a long way in determining the response you are going to get from them, and you must respect the norms and culture of the people of the area of assignment and be tolerant,” he said
He also added that the various local governments and the localities where the exercise were to take place would be duly informed.
It will be recalled that national census has been scheduled for April 2023 following the approval of the state council.
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