The Director-General of Oyo State Liaison Office, Abuja and Lagos, Mr. Wale Ajani, was on Monday, November 7, 2022, decorated as a Census Ambassador by the Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), Honourable Nasir Isa Kwarra.
Ajani was honored with the decoration during ji visit to the NPC chairman at the National Population Census headquarters in Abuja.
In his remarks, Ajani said that his visit to the NPC was to appreciate the good works of the Commission which was in line with the mandate given to him by Governor Seyi Makinde.
He said Governor Makinde gave him the mandate to reach out to key federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other critical stakeholders that could key into the Oyo development agenda, in order to build more synergy and robust collaborations.
Ajani noted that issues of population were contentious and required a lot of wisdom to coordinate.
He added: “As we are approaching census year, Oyo State as a pacesetter should take the lead.”
He maintained that in order to adequately plan as a government, the demography of the people must be taken into consideration, stressing the need for more advocacy in our local languages in order to sensitise the people.
He however, requested areas of opportunities that Oyo State government and indigenes could tap into list of the indigenes working as civil servants at a directorate level in the commission.
He also appealed for an accelerated resolve of all pending population census issues with Oyo state.
Commending Ajani for his giant strides in deepening the existing relationship Oyo State has with federal MDAs and critical stakeholders, the Commissioner representing Ogun state thanked Governor Makinde’s aide for being the first to extend the gesture of a courtesy visit to the Commission.
She, however, requested for an official meeting between the Commission and Governor Makinde in Ibadan.
The Commissioner representing Oyo State, Dr. Eyitayo Oyetunji, who couldn’t contain his excitement, expressed his delight, saying that the state has lived up to its name as a pacesetter state.
He highlighted some of the achievements of Governor Makinde’s government in the last three and a half years in office, while he thanked the DG, Liaison Office for the initiative that would further concretize the relationship between the Commission and oyo state.
He suggested the need to establish working committees set up across all the states before the census year.
The NPC boss, Hon. Kwarra, in his remarks expressed appreciation to Ajani and his team for the initiative, declaring that Ajani’s visit as a welcome development and urging other states to emulate Makinde’s aide.
He added that Ajani’s visit has given the Commission the green light to visit Oyo State.
The Chairman also hinted that the Commission had been working very hard to provide socio-demographic data for planning purpose for the federal government.
Kwarra however, highlighted some of the programmes being embarked upon ahead of the forthcoming population census to include: pre-census tests to prepare the officers ahead and modify the process; retreats to examine the process; launch of compendium of localities at the state level; launch of e-recruitment portal for one to two million youths to be engaged in the process while soliciting for more support from state governments across the country.
