The essence of a national population census can be achieved when adequate planning and other logistics are done with seriousness and reality of purpose towards formulating effective policies and programmes for the people.

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun made this known at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, during a stakeholders’ summit on the National Population and Housing Census, with the theme: ‘’2023 Census: Getting the People Involved’’, describing it as a gigantic project that would produce a new set of demographic and socio-economic data, towards ensuring all-round development.

Represented by his deputy, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Abiodun noted that since the last population census held in the country, most of the variables have changed and government needed to rely on scientific estimations, especially from non-Nigeria organisations to plan for the people.

He said, ’’It has become imperative for the nation to conduct another national census which will provide the basis for planning and sustainable development. Therefore,  such a national assignment should be carried out with all seriousness and adequate planning that will involve all relevant stakeholders, hence the need for a summit of this magnitude’’.

 Abiodun assured that his administration was convinced that the National Population Commission (NPC) had the commitment and capacity to deliver to the nation, a reliable, credible, acceptable, and successful census, soliciting the support of critical stakeholders and the general public for the successful conduct of the upcoming 2023 census.

 In his remarks, the Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, represented by his deputy, Hon. Hakeem Balogun, admonished all stakeholders to give the census exercise utmost priority, as it would afford the country the opportunity of allocating resources for the development of the country, enjoining everyone to be census ambassadors in their various communities.

In his lecture, the Guest Speaker, Dr. Bola Akinsanya, said the need for 2023 NPC could not be overemphasised, as it was overdue, explaining that population was a critical factor in a nation's effort towards achieving sustainable development.

He hinted that Nigeria had one of the faster-growing populations, with a growth rate of 32 percent, stressing that the country's inability to conduct a census had created an information vacuum, while the lack of accurate data had also hindered planning and development of the nation.

Earlier in her address, a Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, Ogun State, Yeye Oluwaseyi Aderinokun, said the summit was to broaden the State level support base, adding that the objectives were to create public awareness, promote robust procedures of the census,  provide a platform to receive feedback,  engage major stakeholders, appealing to everyone to join hands with the Commission towards a better housing census.