Nigeria’s 2023 Population and Housing Census (PHC) is the country’s first digital census. Digital tools and technology were used.

The adoption and deployment of these digital technology as highlighted in line with UN Priciples and Recommendations creates confidence in the entire Census process, thereby ensuring that the Census data produced is reliable and accepted for use in development planning for the country.

In line with the UN recommendations for the 2020 round of censuses that countries should leverage on digital tool for the conduct of Censuses, the 2023 Nigeria Population and Housing Census – Nigeria’s first Digital Census – employs digital tools and procedures to improve the census taking process.

These tools have been adopted and integrated or envisaged to be used in Census processes including in the Enumeration Area Demarcation, pretesting of tools, recruitment, data quality management, monitoring & evaluation, project management, communications, main data collection fieldwork monitoring and dissemination.

Goals of adopting technology in Nigeria’s 2023 PHC
The goals of adopting of technology in the 2023 PHC include to:

Track and ensure complete coverage of the country during the Census.
Reduce errors in the entire Census process including in field data collection. Facilitate real-time data transfer for quality checks within the Census fieldwork period. Reduce timelines and facilitate efficient deployment of resources Improve field management and facilitate monitoring of workflows Ensure timely publication of census results.

The key 2023 Nigeria PHC tools that are digital or technology-aided include;
Census Mapping Tools
Census Field Data collection Tools
Recruitment Portal
Enumeration Dashboard
Data Quality Management
Quality Assurance
Monitoring & Evaluation
Training
Project Management
Call Centre
Situation Room
Data Analysis & Dissemination

Mapping for the 2023 PHC was firmly anchored on technology and innovation. The EADPad developed in-country was used for the Enumeration Area Demarcation. It provided improved GIS data capture and processing functionality.
The QA Pad also developed for the exercise provided a technology-based approach to to ensuring real time quality assurance of the EAD process.
The improved digital EA frame produced from the EAD is a major tool for the 2023 PHC as it will determine the enumerators’ assignment areas and will form a basis for distribution of human and materials resources during the Census.

Census Pad

A hybrid digital tool has been developed for the collection of data during the census. One half of the hybrid system is the Census Pad which handles the Geo-spatial component of the system and is used for building numbering and household listing.

CSPro
CSPro is the other component of the hybrid program for the census. The strength of the form-centric CSEntry system allows for big data collection, processing and application of robust edit specifications.

Enumeration dashboard
The enumeration dashboard has been developed for the monitoring of the 2023 PHC.
The real time enumeration tracking dashboard is designed for assessing the live output from the field by different categories of monitors with varying level of access.

Data Quality Management
A Data Quality Management (DQM) system was set up for the 2023 PHC as part of the multi-pronged approach to ensuring data quality through checks and facilitation of remedial action while data collection is still ongoing.
The DQM system will ensure data accuracy, completeness, consistency and timeliness by managing the four critical components of the census operations which includes;
EA Frame
Personnel
Software – program
Hardware – Tablets & tools
The DQMs will monitor the dashboards, manage field applications, and interface with field functionaries on issues around data quality.

Call center
The Commision has set up a Census Call Centre (CCC) for the 2023 PHC.
The call centre serve as a hub of communication for information flow from and to fieldworker, Census Management, partners, and very importantly, the public.
The CCC is well equipped and was manned throughout the Trial Census and Trial Post Enumeration Survey.

Situation room
The Commission also set-up a well-equipped Situation Room to coordinate the management of the 2023 Population and Housing Census.
The Situation Room if fitted to serve as an important avenue for census information management, providing a platform to monitor and deal with developing issues around the successful conduct of the exercise.