Media professionals have been urged to collaborate with the National Population Commission to achieve set goals in the forth coming Census exercise.

The Federal Commissioner representing Kogi State in the National Population Commission, Professor Habibat Isah Jimoh made the call at a One Day State Level Capacity Building Workshop For Journalists On Effective Reporting Of The 2023 Population And Housing Census in Lokoja.

Professor Habibat said the call became imperative in view of the Commission’s determination to present a fair, balanced and credible Census to the people of the State.

On the effectiveness of the equipment to be deployed, the Federal Commissioner said the Commission’s Server has been built against hackers interference and breakdown in view of it’s desire to achieve set goals.

He stressed that the exercise is key to national planning and development by the Government for overall benefits of all

In his opening remark, the Kogi State Director of the Commission, Mr. Ojo Titus Abiodun said cutting edge technology has been deployed to ensure a seamless exercise.

Mr Ojo said the Commission is poised to achieve a fair, credible and acceptable Population and Housing Census to all in-respective of tribe, religion and race.

According to him, measures also have been put in place to check against pitfalls that bedeviled previous Census exercises in the Country.

The State Director equally called for continuous synergy with journalists in the State to sensitize the public especially at the grassroot levels.

Also speaking, the Kogi State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Adeiza Momohjimoh charged the Commission to be thorough with the equipment to be deployed to avoid setbacks during and after the exercise.

Comrade Adeiza said getting accurate data is key to the success of the exercise.

In a message to the occasion, the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo charged journalists to be fair in thier reportage of the exercise in Kogi State.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Adegbola Teddy, the Commissioner assured of the partnership of the State Government towards achieving set goals.

In his goodwill message, representative of the Guild of Editors, Mr Donatus Okpe called on the Commission to detach itself during the exercise from political influence and be just, fair, and impartial to all.

Highlights of the workshop was the technical session on: ” History of Population Censuses in Nigeria and Structure and Mandate of the National Population Commission by the State Director, NPC Kogi State, Mr Ojo Abiodun Titus, “Enumeration Area Demarcation for the 2023 Population and Housing Census” by Mallam Sule Haruna, Head of Department, Technical, NPC Kogi State and “How To Generate Media Content on the 2023 Population and Housing Census” by the State Public Affairs Officer, Mrs Omattah R. M