By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
As Nigeria joined the rest of the worl to mark ‘World Population Day’, the Chairman, National Population Commission, Nasir Isa Kwarra, has advocated for rights of women and girls.
Kwarra, who made this know on Tuesday in Abuja to mark the day added that the theme of the (WPD), “Unleashing the Power of Gender Equality: Uplifting the Voices of Women and Girls to Unlock Our World’s Infinite Possibilities”, is timely.
He said the theme draws from the world’s attainment of the 8 billion population mark, addresses SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls and connects with issues highlighted in this year’s State of the World Population Report (SWOP), launched few weeks back.
“It also, urges Member States including Nigeria to ensure vulnerable population groups, particularly women and girls have chances to express their rights and have indiscriminatory access to make choices in a world of 8 billion people.
“Our population is currently estimated at slightly over 216 million, placing Nigeria as the sixth most populated nation in the world. Nigeria was listed among the nine countries in the world whose rapid population growth contributed to the 8 billion reach on November 15th 2022. Also, predictions show that expected half of the global population growth between now and 2050 will be from the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region and Nigeria will be a major contributor to that regional growth driven by past/existing momentum growth.”
The NPC boss said women and girls represent almost (49.7%), half of the country’s entire population.
“However, this unique population group, more often are neglected across all societies and communities and are not accorded the deserved attention and experience limited access to opportunities.
“The context of this year’s commemoration is a reminder that arouses attention and which requires actions that will facilitate sustainable creating of opportunities that will empower women and girls for a secure future for all.
“Addressing the perspectives of women and girls’ Rights and Choices to pave way for achieving SDG 5 “Achieving Gender Equity” – entails: Securing unlimited access to quality formal education and to be well-educated in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), including acquiring livelihood skills and entrepreneurships; securing planned and organized access to decent work and employment outside the home and enjoying equal wages at par with their male counterpart to achieve economic empowerment; involvement in decision-making roles in many aspects of life, including leadership positions; undisruptive access to quality and affordable health care services including maternity services plus sexual and reproductive health care services; protection from marginalization and exclusivity at all levels, space and spheres; to enjoy life/living free from all forms of discriminatory laws, customs/norms and culture that limits their potentials including protection from gender-based violence and harmful practices like early/child/forced marriages that most time, results in unintended pregnancies that usually disrupts their education (most times for life), as well as expose their body to incontinent/inconvenience like Fistula and maternal deaths”.
On her part, UNFPA Resident Representative, Her Excellency, Ulla Elizabeth Mueller, said the theme is a wake up call for countries to recognize the rights of women and girls.
She said women and girls are integral part of the society and deserve to heard and treated with respect.
She added that gender equality is a necessary task that must be achieved in the world.
She commended the chairman of the commission for his partnership with the agency.
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