From Birth Certificate to Classroom: Why Legal Identity Matters to a Child’s Education

For millions of Nigerian children, the path to education begins with a simple document—the birth certificate. Beyond serving as a proof of identity, birth registration is crucial for accessing healthcare, social protection, and educational services. The government also relies on these records to plan and fund essential services.

As Nigeria transitions to electronic birth registration, challenges and opportunities arise for parents, health workers, and civil registration officials to ensure every child is accounted for and ready to enter the classroom. In her reporting, Funmi Ogundare highlights the significance of this process.

For many children, their educational journey starts long before they step into a school building. It begins with having an officially recorded name, birthdate, and place of birth. A birth certificate is far more than just a piece of paper; it is a child's legal identity and a key to accessing essential services. For Deborah Eyoh, a mother of three, registering her children's births is about more than just obtaining a document.

It is a vital step in securing their identity and facilitating future access to important services. When THISDAY spoke to Eyoh at a Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Lagos, she emphasized the importance of electronic birth registration, as it simplifies verification processes for school admissions and other vital needs.

Eyoh's experience underscores the broader implications of birth registration. According to UNICEF, approximately 3.5 million children under one year old in several Nigerian states remain unregistered, rendering them "invisible" in the civil registration system. This invisibility can hinder government planning and funding for crucial services like education, healthcare, and social protection.

Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere, stressed that accurate records are essential for governments to allocate resources effectively. Without proper registration, children risk being excluded from funding calculations, leaving them without the support they need. Hence, birth registration is not just a procedural requirement; it is a fundamental right that ensures every child can participate fully in society.