The Federal Government has inked a deal with Zinox, Nigeria’s leading integrated technology brand for the 2023 national census project. The contract, worth over N85 billion is for the supply of tech components and other accessories to ensure that the census is conducted successfully. It was facilitated through the National Population Commission (NPC).
Zinox won the contract, after going through a tough bidding process that involved local and international competitors. Before the contract was awarded, it was ratified by the Federal Executive Council(FEC).
Zinox and the 2023 National Census
The Chairman of Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh noted that without credible data, the country will not be able to plan well. He also revealed that the company has started supplying the first batch of about 100,000 units of the Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) devices required for the nationwide enumeration.
Also, the Managing Director of Zinox Technologies, Mrs Kelechi Okonta considered the deal a privilege. She said, “They know we have the capacity. We are deploying all our resources to make sure it is successful.”
2023 National Census: the start of a new dawn
Speaking at a high-powered delegation of commissioners, NPC Chairman, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra said the 2023 census will begin a new dawn in housing and human headcount in Nigeria. Kwarra noted that there won’t be under or over-counting as the devices when commissioned would ensure that enumerators are unable to go beyond the areas assigned to them.
The NPC Chairman who was hosted by Zinox on February 3, 2023, hinted that the App would work with forms, maps and other digital enhancements. He said, ‘‘The geospatial resources that NPC has acquired will be deployed on the devices to ensure that all Nigerians are counted where they are and live.”
Still speaking, Kwarra disclosed that everyone will be counted irrespective of their location because all Nigerians count.
How the Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) device works
The PDA device is a small hand-held device encrypted with census questionnaires and maps. The questionnaires will direct enumerators to assigned enumeration areas. For it to work effectively, a database of enumerators would first be created. Second, the enumerator’s area ID would be linked to each enumerator. It is this ID that would be used to identify enumeration areas. Also, geocodes would be created on the map to aid in the identification of buildings and households.
The 2023 census is scheduled to hold between March and April. It will be the fifth census since independence in 1960.
