By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Projection of Nigeria’s population to double 30 years from now is of great concern to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, against the backdrop of rising unemployment, inadequate provision for health, education, and other social metrics.
The estimated population of 206 million is projected to increase to 263 million in 2030 and 401 million in 2050 when it will double and make Nigeria the third most populous country in the world.
Obasanjo called for better management in the face of population explosion without corresponding socio-economic development, which he said has slowed down national development.
He was addressing in Abeokuta a mentoring session with students of selected schools across the federation, tagged “Raising the next wave of innovative leaders through entrepreneurship”, per reporting by The Guardian (Nigeria).
Said he: “We have moved from 120 million to over 200 million. We have added the population of France to our population and if we continue the way we are going, by the year 2050, we will be third largest country in the world.
“If we still continue, by the year 3000, we would be the largest country in the world.
“What are we going to do to handle that, how are we going to handle that population? If we do not start getting it right now, we will not get it right by the year 2050.”
Obasanjo explained that, depending on how population is managed, it can be an asset or a liability.
“Population by itself may not be a liability if we do what we have to do. But if we don’t do what we have to do, which we are not doing now, population will be a liability.
“What we need to do is education about population management. Some people don’t like saying family planning but, whatever you do, you must manage your population to the benefit of all that are living within your nation.”
Fielding questions from the students, Obasanjo listed service to fatherland, integrity, loyalty, and good morals as some of the virtues to sustain them in their careers.
Reversing the trend
Agwu Amogu, Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship Chairman, said one way to reverse unplanned population growth is to increase attention and funding for entrepreneurship and community service education.
“This will enable the young people acquire the necessary 21st century skills for jobs and self-employment,” he stressed.
“We urgently need a new paradigm for education. The new paradigm must provide students with a chance to learn, while solving community problems and immediately applying what they have learnt in the classroom by actually doing something great.
“We now live in a world where any country can compete effectively with others based on the creative imagination of its human capital. There is no better place to stoke the fire of imagination than in the young people.”
