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By Saviour Ekpe
The National Population Commission has earmarked Itu, Ikot Abasi, Mbo and Ukanafun local government areas for the second phase of the Census Pre-test Exercise in Akwa Ibom State.
This information was dropped in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital by the Federal Commissioner of the National Population Commission, Akwa Ibom State, Chief (Engr.) Benedict Ukpong in a press briefing recently.
The Federal Commissioner of the National Population Commission, Akwa Ibom State, Chief (Engr.) Benedict Ukpong whose address was read by the State Director of the Commission, Mr. Emmanuel A. Edem explained that the pre-test is aimed at putting everything in place to ensure the effective workability of all apparatus in preparation for the actual census exercise, “the conduct of the pre-test is aimed at testing, the census methodology, the questionnaires, data collection methods, the manuals for field staff, instruction materials, data editing and coding, data processing and tabulation in preparation for the actual census”. He further explained that each of the four local government areas will have three Enumeration Areas (EAs) from three localities bringing the affected localities per local government area to 12 as well as 12 Enumeration Areas (EAs).
Engr. Ukpong also noted that the objectives of the exercise among other things are to assess 1. The suitability of questionnaires/forms 2. Clarity of concepts, instructions and contents of census instruments 3. Use of EA maps for the census 4. The workload on each team of enumerators and supervisors 5. Logistics support from States and LGAs 6. Adequacy of techniques adopted for advocacy/IEC for the census 7. The relationship between the EAD estimated population and 2nd pre-test population and adequacy of the data capture method.
The Federal Commissioner who appreciated the State Governor on what he termed as a ‘monumental support’ given to the commission for the success of the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) exercise; commended the involvement of members of the State Executive Council, Chairmen of local government areas, Paramount Rulers and other stakeholders on the roles they played to ensure success, appealed to respondents in the selected local government areas and EAs to extend maximum cooperation to the enumerators by answering all the questions that would be asked faithfully and truthfully.
In his welcome address, the State Director of the Commission, Mr. Emmanuel A. Edem noted that the briefing was to declare the commencement of enumeration for the 2nd pre-test in preparation for the next Population and Housing Census.
The address of the Director, which was read by the Field Coordinator, Mr. Unyime Akpakpan said, “Census pre-test is one of the major pre-censal activities to be conducted before any census as it helps to validate the census methodology and instruments earmarked for the conduct of the census exercise”.
Present at the briefing were Mrs. Ime Kerian, Head of Department, Administration; staffers from the National and State Headquarters of the Commission; Local Government Controllers; media professionals. The event featured question and answer session.
