The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has called on the people of the state to cooperate with the National Population Commission (NPC) to ensure the success of the enumeration process for the forthcoming Population and Housing Census.
Dr. Fayemi who spoke on Thursday while declaring open the Stakeholders’ Workshop/Flag Off of Field Work for the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) said that the purpose is for national planning and economic development.
Represented by the Deputy Governor Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, Dr Fayemi advised the people both at the state and local government levels to support and cooperate with the enumerators in performing the census enumeration.
The Governor who stated that the personnel for the assignment will be trained from 11th to 18th solicited the support of government agencies, corporate bodies, traditional rulers to disseminate the information and the security agencies for adequate protection of the enumerators.
In his address, the Federal Commissioner representing Ekiti on the board of NPC, Mr. Ayodeji Ajayi disclosed that the exercise will take place in 261 Local Government Areas in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, the exercise will cover six LGAs of Ido/Osi, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Oye, Ekiti East, Gbonyin and Efon while the Phase 2 of the EAD will take place in Ikole and Ilejemeje LGAs of Ekiti State.
Ajayi however explained that the exercise is for planning purpose and that the outcome will not in anyway determine the population of any community, local government or state.
He equally stated that the forthcoming Population and Housing Census will be biometric based and will seek to capture the impression and fingerprints of person during the exercise.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Planning, Statistics and Population Matters, Mr. Olajide Oguntimehin in his speech said the system is making use of Geographic Information System which include the use of Satellite Imagery for demarcation of enumeration areas across the state.
The Owa Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Adewole who spoke on behalf of the royal fathers assured the state government and the NPC that their communities will cooperate with the enumerators for the enumeration process.
Also pledging their support for smooth conduct of the exercise were the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Funminiyi Afuye who was represented by the Deputy speaker, Mr. Hakeem Jamiu; Chairman of the state chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Mr. Kolade Amire; Commissioner for Local Government, Prof. Adio Folayan; representative of the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State and other prominent personalities.
