NPC CHAIRMAN HARPS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CENSUS DATA TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, fnsa, has stated that the 2023 Population and Housing Census will provide the new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with accurate and reliable data to plan for the development of Nigeria.

Hon. Kwarra disclosed this at the 41st Inaugural Lecture of the University of Abuja titled ‘The Paradox of Population Growth in National Development’ and delivered by the President of Population Association of Nigeria (PAN), Prof. Rhoda Mundi at the Main Campus of the University of Abuja.

In his remarks, Hon. Kwarra commended the University of Abuja for organizing the lecture, saying that it was timely and would contribute to the ongoing discourse on the relationship between population growth and national development.

He said that the lecture highlighted the need for Nigeria to invest in population planning and development, to harness the demographic dividend and avoid the potential challenges of population growth.

Hon. Kwarra also said that the NPC was committed to working with the University of Abuja and other stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria achieves its population goals.

He assured the readiness of the Commission to conduct the upcoming census when the new government of President Bola Tinubu fixed the date for the exercise. He further urged the new administration to prioritize the conduct of the census to provide the government with reliable data for development planning and policy-making.

The lecture was attended by a number of dignitaries, including the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, the Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Michael Adikwu, the Registrar, Mr. Adamu Alhassan, the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Nuhu Yaqub, Bishop Hassan Matthew Kukah and other prominent personalities from the academic community.

Prof. Mundi, in her lecture, argued that population growth can be a paradox for national development, depending on how it is managed.

She said that if population growth is not managed properly, it can lead to problems such as unemployment, poverty, and environmental degradation.

However, she said that if population growth is managed properly, it can lead to positive outcomes such as increased productivity, innovation, and economic growth.

Prof. Mundi called for a more holistic approach to population planning and development, which takes into account the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of population growth.

She said Nigeria needs to invest in education, healthcare, and infrastructure to create an enabling environment for its growing population.

She also called for the need to empower women and girls, in order to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life for all Nigerians.

She stated that to solve the population paradox, it is imperative for Nigeria to accurately determine its populace and implement measures to intentionally create a productive and manageable population.

The audience well-received the lecture and commended Prof. Mundi for eruditely delivering the lecture that proffers solutions to Nigeria’s population issues.

The lecture was a significant event, and it is hoped that it will contribute to the ongoing discourse on the relationship between population growth and national development.