The Nigerian News Agency (NAN) reports that the SPLA’s theme for 2021 is “Rights and Peace: Mitigating Insecurity and Gender-Based Violence to Harness the Demographic Dividend”.
The minister explained that the census and monitoring of the population was essential to alleviate poverty and reduce gender-based violence (GBV).
She said that “when you fail to do a population census, the standard of living drops, with overloaded infrastructure and gender-based violence.
“One of the causes of gender-based violence is poverty or insufficient resources.
The Minister of Finance, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, assured the NPC of the ministry’s support to achieve the desired objective.
Ahmed, who was represented by Dr Olufunsho Adebiyi, called for everyone’s collaboration to achieve a bigger and better Nigeria where women and girls are protected.
NPC Executive Chairman Alhaji Isa kwarra, said the conference was organized as part of a multi-sector partnership to radiograph emerging population issues every year.
Kwarra, represented by Mr. Ayodeji Ajayi, the president, Population Studies of NPC, said the conference aimed to bring government attention to development issues.
He explained that such an exercise would allow policymakers and development partners to formulate policies and programs that harness demographic dividends.
He added that “This year’s theme has been carefully selected and richly presented to reflect the multifaceted challenges facing the country.
“The challenges include high incidences of insecurity and gender-based violence that have global dimensions, with their negative effects on harnessing the demographic dividend. “
Dr Okai Aku, the Acting Executive Director of the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN), expressed optimism about the conference’s ability to foster purposeful nation-building.
Aku said the federation is committed to promoting constructive conversations and engagements that will result in policies and programs that enhance the country’s prosperity.
Teacher. Roda Mundi, the president of the Population Association of Nigeria (PAN), congratulated NPC on the conference.
Mundi expressed optimism about the commission’s ability to provide a reliable and credible census that would allow the country to harness demographic dividends.
NAN reports that the SPLA mainly focuses on topical issues relating to the challenges of the people and development of Nigeria.