Computer Based Census Management System

INTRODUCTION
Census has been a reliable exercise from time, from where government rely for
decision-making, and aids for administration and planning. According to Robert M.
Groves, (2010) Director of the United States Census Bureau;
“Just like we cannot survive without roads and bridges, the country does not
function well without an updated census to distribute funds to areas that most
need them and to support community decisions and their own future.”
The increasing complexity of modern life means a greater need to plan housing,
schools, roads, transportation, and a vast range of social and economic requirement
for nation. This cannot be done without a detailed count of the population. Census is
being officially managed by some organizations or government, for example the
National Population Commission (NPC).
The installation of computer in these organizations or bodies that manages census
information will assist not only in fast-recording information but also in solving
certain problems, which cannot be easily resolved manually. The human resource of
any enterprises are considered to be their most valuable assets, if they are properly
harnessed and are well motivated to perform their assigned tasks in such a manner as
to enhance the enterprises goals and objectives.
Therefore, adequate population records will provide all the necessary information that
is associated with people, which include the size of the population, age structure,
educational attainment, labour force and socio-economic characteristics, unlike in the
manual method which makes access to data and information very tedious. The
integration of different databases so that these databases can be merged and processed
together and mainly other reasons, prompted the researcher to develop software for this
organization, National Population Commission (NPC).

1.1 Background of the study
Census taking in Nigeria can be traced to have started from as far back as 1966 after the
colonization of Lagos by our colonial masters. Since then, there have been several
attempts to count Nigeria population. However, these censuses are characterized by
some difficulties and deliberate and ill-minded attempts to inflate population figures;
just in favour of one geopolitical zone or the other. This does not and cannot represent
the nation‟s image as regards to human population. As a result of this, the National
Population Commission (NPC) was established using the Decree No. 23 of 1989. The
brain behind this was to have successful censuses each time and as well accurate
demographic data. It is no doubt that this Commission (NPC) was vested with a lot of
powers and functions some of which are;
To undertake the periodic enumeration of the nation‟s population through
census, sample surveys, etc.
To establish and maintain the machinery for continuous and universal
registration of births and deaths
To collect, collate and publish data on migration statistics
To reach and monitor national population polity and set up national population
information data bank.
Unfortunately, Nigeria still relies on foreign statistics population information data bank
for most of their population estimation.

1.2 Statement of the problem
There are many problems affecting the National Population Commission from
maintaining a steady reliable figures and estimates. These are the more reasons, why
the researcher embarked on this research;
 inadequate manpower
 lack of equipments
 poor organisation
 unstable polity
 manual bulk carrying of data

1.3 Objectives of the Study
The objectives of this study are summarized as follows:
 To develop computerized software that automatically stores and retrieves all
information on human population.
 To develop a reliable system that could be used in collecting data/information
on human population.
 To develop a system that will support direct access to the specific and required
information

1.4 Significant of the Project
 The system will solve problem associated with the acquisition, storage, and
retrieval of information on human population with ease.
 A timely retrieval of information is anticipated with efficiency and reliability.
 It will provide security to data that are unauthorized, users will not gain access
to those files and fraud will be minimized in the society which will lead to
improvement in administration processes.

1.5 Scope of the Project
The major aim of the project is to design a system that will have all information about
human population and retrieving of data when ever needed in the society. It focuses on
the registration, retrieval and management of information about individuals in the
society.

1.6 Limitation of Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of
which are;
 Lack of finance