The National Population Commission of Nigeria recently held a press briefing to commemorate World Population Day 2023.
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The event, which was organized under the theme “Unleashing the Power of Gender Equality: Uplifting the Voices of Women and Girls to Unlock Our World’s Infinite Possibilities”, aimed to address gender inequality and empower women and girls to have indiscriminate access to opportunities.
Nigeria’s population is currently estimated at slightly over 216 million, making it the sixth most populated nation in the world. The country was listed among the nine countries whose rapid population growth contributed to the 8 billion reach in November 2022.
According to predictions, the expected global population growth between now and 2050 will chiefly occur in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region, with Nigeria playing a significant role.
Women and girls represent almost half of Nigeria’s population. However, they are often neglected across all societies and communities and are not accorded the attention they deserve, limiting their access to opportunities.
The theme of this year’s commemoration seeks to remind the public and stakeholders of the need to address this issue comprehensively.
Achieving gender equality is essential in paving the way for sustainable development. It involves securing unlimited access to education, decent work and employment, involvement in decision-making roles, quality healthcare services, protection from marginalization and exclusivity, and the right to reproductive choices, amongst other things.
Empowering women and girls is, therefore, fundamental for achieving enduring peace and progress, not just in Nigeria but around the world.
The onus of prioritizing decision-making and actions that provide women and girls with opportunities falls on the Nigerian government and all stakeholders, including civil society organizations, traditional and religious leaders, donors, and partners.
The week-long event will sensitize the populace and targeted population on the theme’s importance, culminating in the main event to commemorate World Population Day on July 11th in Abuja.
