A Professor of Geography, Prof. Rhoda Mundi, has called on the Federal Government to adequately fund the conduct of the forthcoming national population and housing census to guarantee good governance.
Mundi, who specialises in population and development, made the call on Friday at the 41st Inaugural Lecture of the University of Abuja.
She said there was the need for all stakeholders to be involved in the implementation of Nigeria’s National Policy on Population for Sustainable Development.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the Inaugural Lecture was: “The Paradox of Population Growth in National Development.”
She said that a successful implementation of the policy would ensure the production of a healthy and quality population needed as catalyst for national development.
According to her, there was need for government to provide the necessary funds and seek assistance from relevant development partners for the conduct of the census.
“Governments at all levels need to make concerted efforts to invest in the population through provision of education, health, and other infrastructure.
“Investing in education will enhance the knowledge and skills of the population for better performance and productivity, ” she said.
Mundi urged that governments should strengthen policies that would discourage brain drain and encourage brain gain so that the country can benefit from her vast human resources.
“Investing in health will translate into investing in the quality of population for a healthier and more focused workforce with lower morbidity and mortality.
“Governments at all levels should be more proactive and increase efforts at provision of security while communities and individuals follow the basic rules of self-protection,” she said.
The professor lamented that Nigeria’s population was growing at an alarming rate as a result of several reasons, adding,”census is the primary sources of data required for policy planning.
”Without adequate and reliable data to guide decision making, it is difficult to achieve development in any nation.
“World population has been growing fast but unevenly, with Asia and Africa contributing the largest populations.
“It is particularly unfortunate that other systems for registration of vital events and collection of vital statistics are weak in Nigeria.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)