African Civil Status Day: Limbe I Council issues 335 birth certificates

On Friday, August 8, 2025, Limbe I Council joined Cameroon and Africa to commemorate African Civil Status Day, marking the 8th edition of the event. It distributed 335 free birth certificates, conducted mass marriages, and donated bedsheets and pillowcases to the Bota District Hospital, among other activities.

During the event, Limbe I Council Mayor Mbwaye Eposi Florence explained that the African Civil Status Day initiative aims to promote civil registration and provide essential documentation to individuals, particularly children, who lack birth certificates.

The Mayor announced that the council will embark on the digitalisation of civil status documents starting from September 15, 2025. "We have put everything in place; we have the server's room, we have all our machines, and we have everything it takes to go digital for these documents," Mayor Mbwaye Eposi added.

She explained that the digitalisation process is aimed at avoiding corruption, noting that computerised documents cannot be backdated.

Mayor Mbwaye Eposi expressed gratitude to GIZ, UNDP, and the government for their support in implementing the digitalisation project.

"We're sincerely happy that we've ended up this day so well. It has never happened in any council. So, I want to thank my collaborators in Limbe I Council, all Civil Status Secretaries, because they've done a lot," she said.

The Mayor also revealed that the first prize of FCFA 10 million and a tricycle won for the "My Name Campaign" will be awarded before September 2025. She informed the population that women have 90 days to bring their delivery certificates to the council after giving birth, and the council will establish a birth certificate upon receiving the documents.

However, some women mistakenly believe that the delivery certificate is the birth certificate. The Mayor urged Chiefs and quarter heads to inform the council about deaths in their areas to produce death certificates.

It should be noted that authorities announced on October 24, 2024, that the process of acquiring birth certificates would be computerised by 2025 in Buea, Tiko, and Limbe I, as part of a pilot phase under the National Civil Service Registration Office (BUNEC) with technical assistance from UNICEF.

According to BUNEC South West boss Ndzerem Walters, children's births should be declared even if their full names haven't been given, to commence the birth certificate acquisition process.

The government has been working to increase access to birth certificates, especially in regions affected by conflict or displacement. For instance, a project was launched in 2023 to provide birth certificates to 26,000 children in 21 councils across seven regions, with government support of over 667 million FCFA.

To obtain a birth certificate in Limbe, parents can declare their child's birth at the Limbe I Council Office or local registry office. The process involves submitting required documents, such as parents' identity cards and witnesses' identity cards, and filling out a birth declaration form.

BY SIMON KALLA

Contact KNews management for news coverage, special write-up, support and advertisement (+237) 651252410

Cross section of newly weeded couples in group picture with dignitaries