How best to utilize population growth

In the long-run, the population would double and there would be food shortages starvation or even death. The population of any country can be an asset or a liability to the development process depending on how effectively it is managed. Since her attainment of nationhood in 1960, Nigeria’s population has almost tripled. Nigeria with the […]

In the long-run, the population would double and there would be food shortages starvation or even death. The population of any country can be an asset or a liability to the development process depending on how effectively it is managed. Since her attainment of nationhood in 1960, Nigeria’s population has almost tripled. Nigeria with the largest population in Africa cannot afford to be indifferent to the management of its population for sustainable development.

Awareness of population related issues and the need to integrate population elements into development planning is now on the increase. All stakeholders need to appreciate the linkages of population factors with broader developmental issues like housing, education, health, agriculture, energy, environmental, gender concerns, food security and the security of life and property.

Adequate knowledge of the characteristics and trends of population is required to integrate population factors into development planning; to monitor and evaluate policies and programmes and to help promote population awareness among decision makers in public and private sectors. In Nigeria, the National Policy on Population for sustainable development recognizes population as a valuable resource and central to sustainable development.

Chioma Mezue can be reached at [email protected]