How 7 billionth baby was celebrated in Adamawa

In Yola, the state capital officials of the state Planning Commission, United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), as well as that of the National Population Commission, were on hand to celebrate the birth of the 7-billionth babies, while photos flashed and people cheered soon after the baby was born at two minutes before midnight […]

In Yola, the state capital officials of the state Planning Commission, United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), as well as that of the National Population Commission, were on hand to celebrate the birth of the 7-billionth babies, while photos flashed and people cheered soon after the baby was born at two minutes before midnight at the Specialist Hospital, Yola . Correspondent, Ibrahim Abdul’Aziz was at the event and reports that:

He came into the world at two minutes before midnight, a tiny, wrinkled boy born into a struggling Yola family. On Monday, he became a symbol of the world’s population reaching 7 billion and all the worries that entails the planet’s future.

Abdallah, born in a crowded public hospital, was welcomed with a present marked “7B Yola” and a gift certificate for free baby shoes. There were bursts of photographers’ flashes and speeches by local officials and UNFPA officials. The celebrations, though, reflected symbolism more than demography.

Amid the millions of births and deaths around the world each day, it is impossible to pinpoint the arrival of the globe’s 7 billionth occupant. But the U.N. chose last Monday to mark the day with a string of festivities worldwide, and a series of symbolic 7 billionth babies being born.

Abdallah was the first, arriving at Yola Specialist’s  Hospital at two minutes before midnight Sunday — but doctors say that was close enough to count for a Monday birthday. “He looks so lovely,” the mother, Amina Ibrahim, whispered as she cradled the 2.5-kilo baby, who was born mature.

The baby was the tenth for Amina and her partner, Malam Ibrahim, a struggling driver who supports the family on a tiny salary.

Doctors said later that the birth came with a warning.”Seven billion is a number we should think about deeply,” one of the nursing attendants said.

“We should really focus on the question of whether there will be food, clean water, shelter, education and a decent life for every child,” she said. “If the answer is ‘no,’ it would be better for people to look at easing this population explosion.”

The new born baby was cuddled by his mother as chairman, Adamawa State Planning Commission, Alhaji Abubakar Gamawa, presented gifts. Amina whispered as she cradled her tiny baby, while the joyful mother called on pregnant women to attend ante natal clinics.

In a remark, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) official, Dr Audu Alayade said a series of symbolic 7-billionth babies are being honoured in various countries.

“In many parts of the developing world, where population growth is outpacing economic growth, the need for reproductive health services, especially family planning, remains great,” Alayade said.

He noted that some have used the occasion to celebrate the unrivaled success of the human species. Population grows when births exceed deaths.

“The 7-billion mark was reached because people are living longer and the number of infant deaths have dropped because of a more secure food supply and advances in sanitation and medicine,’’ he said.

Like other speakers at the ceremony, the UNFPA official explained that some countries have used the occasion to celebrate the unrivaled success of the human species. Population grows when births exceed deaths.

“The 7-billion mark was reached because people are living longer and the number of infant deaths has dropped, because of a more secure food supply and because of advances in sanitation and medicine,” hoping that same could be attained in Nigeria.

He was also emphatic that investing in adolescent girls is one of the smartest investments a country can make. “With health, education and opportunities, girls and women can contribute fully to their societies and help break the cycle of poverty.’’ Alayade said.

In his  remark,  Alhaji Abubakar Gamawa prevailed on the need for proper planning as according to him, “government alone cannot solve man’s problems.’’

Gamawa stressed that to achieve desired results there need for relevant agencies to educate the populace on the pros and cons of the ever increasing population.

“People don’t know the multiple challenges of this increasing population. They need to be educated and sensitized,’’ Gamawa noted.

In Yola like other parts of the country, much of the population issues revolve around birth control with many backing a program that includes artificial birth control. Though some powerful religious groups, vehemently opposes contraception.

Amina, like her husband, said she was aware of the cultural and religious position but had decided to begin using a birth control device.

“The number of homeless children I see on the streets keep multiplying,” Amina said. “When I see them, I’m bothered because I eat and maybe they don’t.”

Demographers say it took until 1804 for the world to reach its first billion people and a century more until it hit 2 billion in 1927. The twentieth century, though, saw things begin to cascade: 3 billion in 1959; 4 billion in 1974; 5 billion in 1987; 6 billion in 1998.

The U.N. estimates the world’s population will reach 8 billion by 2025 and 10 billion by 2083. But the numbers could vary widely, depending on everything from life expectancy to access to birth control to infant mortality rates and already, Nigeria reached 167 million people and Adamawa 3.7 million.

The buildup to Monday’s milestone has briefly turned up the flame on long-simmering debates about growth on a finite planet: Whether a growing population or growing consumption remains the biggest environmental challenge, how best to help lift a billion people out of poverty and misery, whether governments should provide contraception for those who cannot afford it.

In Nigeria where demographers, policy makers, governments, civil society and individuals are grappling with population trends ranging from ageing to rapidly rising number of young people, from high population growth rates to shrinking populations and from high rates of urbanization to rising international migration more investments should be made for youths as they form an integral part of today’s world population.

This is because, there is no word yet on how the United Nations will handle the next milestone, when the globe’s population hits 8 billion — about 14 years from now, though where there is life, there is hope!