Aisha Ahmed
A non governmental organisation, The Challenge Initiative, (TCI), has advocated for family planning and child spacing for a sustainable Nigeria, in its message to commemorate the 2024 World Population Day.
A statement signed by the Country Team Lead of TCI, Dr. Taiwo Johnson on Thursday, revealed that Nigeria faces challenges with rapid population growth, which impedes sustainable development.
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The Nigerian situation according to the Country lead, exacerbates poverty, strains healthcare systems, noting that the country’s current population exceeds 200 million, with projections indicating continued rapid growth.
“Embracing the power of inclusive and comprehensive data collection and analysis are critical for effective family planning.
“This is essential to manage the demographic trend, ensuring that resources are adequately allocated to improve the quality of life for all Nigerians.” Dr Johnson said.
The statement further noted that the theme, has underscored the critical role of inclusive data in fostering sustainable development.
It also highlighted the need for ensuring that every Nigerian has access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
Thirty years ago, it said, the International Conference on Population Development (ICPD) recognized the importance of placing people at the centre of development.
“This milestone has led to significant advancements in reproductive health care, reductions in maternal mortality, and improvements in gender equality.
“A vital yet often underappreciated driver of these achievements has been the strategic use of data.” The statement stressed.
The statement further stressed that the 2024 World Population Day is a pivotal moment for Nigeria to reflect on her challenges and realise the importance of family planning and childbirth spacing.
“This is to address the country’s unique demographic needs, particularly in urban, peri-urban, rural and underserved areas.
“It is very essential for all states to address the needs of the populace and to deliver the dividends of democracy.
“Efforts by TCI in 23 States across Nigeria, have been yielding fruits with support to governments across the country.
“Nigeria has made tremendous progress in sexual and reproductive health over the last 30 years, driven by improved data collection and analysis, enabling better planning and monitoring.
“The country must continue to prioritize investments in population data systems, ensuring that data collection is safe and inclusive.” Said the statement.
It revealed that new data tools can highlight invisible issues but must be managed carefully to avoid biases and privacy risks.
For sustainability and enhanced resilience, it added, the country must sustain the current progress and ensure accommodating the communities excluded from advancements.
TCI is a program funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and Bayer, globally led by the William H. Gates Sr. Institute for Population and Reproductive Health.
It Is a global urban reproductive health initiative designed to support sub-national governments, in achieving self-reliance in scaling-up family planning and adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health interventions.
In Nigeria, TCI is implemented by the Johns Hopkins University Centre for Communication Programs (JHUCCP) and has partnered with 22 states.
The states are Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Borno, Delta, Edo, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, and Yobe since 2016
World Population Day, is an annual event that is observed annually on July 11.
It was established to raise awareness about the major issues surrounding global population growth and the impact it carries on development and sustainability.
