In a move to bolster data accuracy and streamline public services, the Federal Government has issued a directive requiring all existing and prospective university students and staff to update their birth registration records. This involves obtaining a verifiable birth certificate from the National Population Commission (NPC).

The initiative, spearheaded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, follows the official launch of the new Digital Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System (e-CRVS), a comprehensive system designed to strengthen Nigeria's Civil Registration System. Students and staff are urged to visit any NPC office nationwide or utilize the convenient VITALREG online portal for registration at https://birthreg-selfservice.nationalpopulation.gov.ng/ or https://attestation.nationalpopulation.gov.ng/welcome.

A formal communication from the Federal Ministry of Education, addressed to the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) on Wednesday, outlined the new mandate. The letter, citing President Tinubu’s directive, stated: “Mr President has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to leverage this invaluable resource for enhanced data accuracy and improved service delivery.”

The letter further emphasized the compulsory nature of the integration, stating: “It is mandatory that MDAs immediately integrate and utilise the e-CRVS system across all service (as maybe needed) through the National Population Commission’s Portal https://nationalpopulation.gov.ng/ in connection with all vital statistics of the population related to their respective mandates, particularly, the registration of birth and death, and attestation." The NPC has assured prompt resolution of any challenges encountered during the adoption process.

The NPC elaborated on the capabilities of the Digital e-CRVS, describing it as a "complete electronic system deployed to digitize all civil registrations such as birth registration, still birth registration, birth attestation, adoption, marriage notification, divorce notification, migration and death, as well as the verification of vital statistics."

According to the NPC, the e-CRVS offers several key benefits: "The e-CRVS grants citizens in Nigeria and diaspora ease of access to civil registration, eliminates double registration and enables consistency in age declaration. Its advanced technology guarantees the accuracy of the vital statistics." Most importantly, the system facilitates seamless data sharing among Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies (MEDAs), fostering collaboration in national planning, development, and citizen service delivery.

Following this directive, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, issued a circular to all Vice-Chancellors, signed by Mrs. O.J. Anigbogu, Director of Educational Planning, Research and Development, instructing all universities to fully comply. Universities are expected to integrate and utilize the e-CVRS system across all relevant services through the NPC's vital registration portal.

The circular, dated July 23, 2025, encourages Vice-Chancellors to connect with the NPC through their Technical Partner, VITALREG, for additional information and technical support. This initiative aims to create a more reliable and accurate national database, ultimately improving service delivery and planning across various sectors.