By USMAN ALIYU
BENIN- National Population Commission (NPC) in Edo, on Thursday, said that the trial census conducted in the state, ahead of the 2023 national population census, was a huge success.
NPC’s Spokesman in Edo, Mrs Catherine Adigwu, stated this in a statement obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin.
NAN reports that the 12-day trial, which took place in one supervisory community in each of the select nine local government areas in the state, was concluded on July 24.
Adigwu listed the communities where the commission conducted the census to include: Eko-Ewu, Esan Central; Idumoza, Esan North East; Ekekhen, Igueben, Ekperi and Etsako Central.
Others were: Agenebode, Etsako East, Uzebba, Owan West; Oregbeni, Ikpoba Okha; Oben in Orhionwmon and Utese, Ovia North East.
The NPC spokesperson explained that 115 personnel, comprising facilitators, supervisors and enumerators, mainly from the communities within the coverage area, were deployed for the exercise.
“The trial census, which is a dress rehearsal, was to evaluate all aspects of the census operations before the main census on a limited scale.
“The specific objectives were: to assess the quality of the Enumeration Area Maps, determine requisite educational qualifications for enumerators, estimated workload of the enumerators and logistics support for the main census, among others,” she said.
Adigwu said that the experience garnered from the exercise had prepared the commission for a resounding success in the forthcoming census, through adoption of technological innovations at every stage of the process. (NAN)
