The National Population Commission (NPC) will on Wednesday, commence a trial census on Anambra State, which is in preparation for the first fully digital census in 2023, according to the Commission.
Addressing journalists at its office in Awka, on Tuesday, the Federal Commissioner, representing the state, Chidi Ezeoke, said the exercise will take place in all the seven designated towns including Akwukwu, Awka-Etiti, Alor, Nnokwa, Nobi, Oba and Ojoto in Idemili South Local Government Area of the state.
Ezeoke said the exercise, known as “census dress rehearsal”, is a key preparatory activity for the main census slated for April 2023.
He added that the commission has trained 1,146 enumerators and local government supervisors to conduct the exercise in the above-mentioned Local Government Area of the state.
The commissioner noted that the trial would be conducted in all the 7,718 selected enumeration areas across the country to test run suitability and readiness for the actual census in 2023.
He explained that the exercise would provide the commission with the opportunity to test every aspect of census operations.
According to him, this includes from planning to implementation, logistics arrangement and management, questionnaire design and format, training procedures, fieldwork operations, publicity, payment system, data processing, data tabulation and analysis.
He said, “The trial census which is also known as the “census dress rehearsal” is another key preparatory activity for the census.
“It is a process in which all census operations are tested in a detailed and comprehensive manner. This takes place as a matter of best practice about a year before the actual census date to assess the scenario that may be presented during the main Census.’’
He added that the cooperation and support of the stakeholders and the general public are vital for the successful conduct of the Trial Census and that the Commission, under the Chairmanship of Hon Nasir Isa Kwarra, has put in place elaborate arrangements for Advocacy and Publicity.
The State Coordinator, Trial Census, Folami Muka, the State Director, NPC, Dr Joachim Ulasi, and staff of the Commission were present during the media briefing.
