Stakeholders in Kwara have been charged to take over the 2023 census project to ensure successful conduct in the state.

The Federal Commissioner of the National Population Commission, NPC, in Kwara State, Abdulrazaq Folorunsho Gidado, gave the charge at the inauguration of the state census publicity committee headed by the state Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi, at the NUJ Press Center in Ilorin on Tuesday.

He pledged that the census exercise will be done rightly and professionally.

Gidado described the census as another milestone in the journey to the first digital census project whose preparation started about two or three years ago.

Inaugurating the census committee, the Deputy Governor, said the choice of members which cut across strata of the society, was premised on their patriotism, track record and dedication to national development.

Alabi, who urged the members to justify the confidence reposed in them, emphasised the need for adequate publicity and advocacy for the general public and especially to the grassroots as imperative to the overall success of the exercise.

“Census, if properly conducted, will generate reliable socio-economic and demographic data that will guide policymakers while taking strategic decisions at various levels of administration,” he stated.

He said the Kwara State Census Publicity Committee, will be responsible for organizing advocacy visits and strategic engagement with key stakeholders as well as promoting institutional collaboration with civil societies and faith-based organizations for the success of the proposed 2023 national population census.

Members of the committee include the state Commissioner for Information, general managers of media houses in the state, the Director, NOA, the Chairman, state traditional council, Ulamas, chairperson market women association and the national council of women societies.