Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The National Population Commission (NPC) has begun training of Enumerators’ and Supervisors’ for a Trial Census in Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State.
The training which was slated to begin on June 27, 2022, simultaneously in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria suffered a delay due to the insecurity peculiarity in the state.
Speaking at Merchants of Light school, Oba, the NPC Anambra State Director, Mr. Joachim Ulasi tasked the trainees to be serious with the training because a lot of information and learning needed to be assimilated within a limited time.
“This training ought to begin on earlier date but we could not in order to assure safety of the trainers, trainees and the trial census materials.
“You must be punctual and smart phone compliant. You are required to be resident within the locality at least until the trial census period elapses because the app you will use is geo-fenced.
“You need to have an Android phone because most information will be transmitted via WhatsApp and Google mail,” said Ulasi.
Ulasi advised people against indecent dressing to avoid appearing irresponsible before the residents and respondents they will approach in the course Enumeration and house numbering.
According to an NPC facilitator, Mr. Ojukwu Chukwu, “the Trial Census is a pre- Census necessary to test-run the equipment which will eventually be used during the 2023 general Population and Housing Census.
“Previous Population Census conducted in Nigeria had its pitfalls but the 2023 Population and Housing Census will be the best because the Enumerators and Supervisors will make use of Personal Digital Assistance (PDA).
“The PDA is an Android phone-like electronic device geo-fenced and connected online to a dashboard at NPC headquarters, Abuja. All entries are done on the spot within an already programmed Enumeration Area.
“The portal in the Device cannot open unless you are in the particular house assigned to you for face-to-face data collection. This will eliminate forgery and falsifying of data by any community, LGA, State or geo-political zone,” said Chukwu.
“One LGA each from each of the six geo-political zones in the federation was picked for the Trial Census. In the South-East, Idemili South was picked.”
The facilitator said that after the trial census, NPC will go back to its drawing board to ensure that the difficulties encountered would be addressed before the 2023 general population and Housing Census.
The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) officer, Mrs Rita Nnagbuo, cautioned the trainees to handle and guard the PDA carefully because every data collected will be recorded and uploaded with the device.
