Ahead of the general population exercise,the National Population Commission (NPC) said no fewer that 110 persons would in Ekiti State participate in the Nigeria’s Trial Census, coming soon.
Mr Ayodeji Ajayi, the Federal Commissioner, representing Ekiti on the Commission, made this known in Ado-Ekiti, at the opening ceremony of the “State Level Training Workshop”, organised for the select personnel, to be used in experimenting the eventual 2023 population and Housing Census exercise.
According to him, the trial census, also known as ” Census Dress Rehearsal”, was one of the pre&census activities, and a process in which all census operations are tested, in a detailed and comprehensive manner.
Ajayi, also a former Ekiti Head of Service,(HoS), explained that, in line with best global practices, such exercise usually takes place, at least, one year ahead of the real census year.
” The trial census helps in testing all phases of the main census, from planning to the execution of the plans, logistics arrangements and managements among others”, he said.
He further disclosed that the trial census, would cover the entire 36 States of the Federation and the FCT, adding that six LGAs would be selected from Six States, in the six Geo-political zones of the country, while 45 Enumerator Areas, (EAs), shall be selected each from the remaining 30 States and the FCT
He said in Ekiti, for instance, a total of 45 EAs had been selected for the trial census, to test-run their suitability and readiness for the actual census.
” The Commission will use a total of 110 field functionaries in Ekiti State, which comprise of 95 Enumerators, nine Supervisors and five facilitators, for the trial census
” The quality of the personnel for the trial census has a great impact on its outcomes. Therefore, the need to properly train the enumerators and Supervisors at the State level cannot be over emphasised.
” I can assure that the Commission is determined to successfully conduct the Trial Census, in our quest to deliver a credible, reliable acceptable.abd verifiable census to the nation
” It is in this regard that the Commission will leave no stone u turned to ensure that the trial census is carried out meticulously, professionally,and scientifically” he said
Ajayi solicited cooperation of stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious groups, community leaders, security agencies, men and women groups, including youth Organisations, towards the census of the trial census, to commence soon across the country.
Meanwhile, some of the shortlisted participants who spoke to newsmen at the event, expressed delight at their inclusion, and promised to deliver on their mandate, without fail.