By James Agbor, Abuja
The National Population Commission has emphazied the urgent need for stakeholders to work collaboratively toward solutions driven initiative that uphold the rights, health, and well-being of all Nigerians.
Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Nasir Isa-Kwara gave the assertion during an official launch of State of the World Population Report 2025, in Abuja with the THEME: “The Real Fertility Crisis: The Pursuit of Reproductive Health Agency in a Changing World”
He said the 2025 State of World Population Report rightly calls for a shift from policies focused on fertility rates to policies focused on reproductive agency.
Isa-kwara stressed that empowering individuals with information, access to services, and the freedom to choose is the most effective way to achieve both demographic balance and sustainable development.
”When people are able to make informed choices about their reproductive lives, they are more likely to invest in their education, in their families and in their communities.
”Let us commit to building a Nigeria where every woman and man, every girl and boy, has the freedom and means to shape their reproductive journey, free from coercion, discrimination, or fear. “Isa-Kwara revealed.
He however commended the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) not only for its leadership in producing this important annual flagship report but also for its steadfast commitment to shaping the global, regional and national agenda on population and development.
”We deeply value the longstanding partnership with UNFPA in promoting evidence-based, people-centered policies that prioritize the rights and well-being of all. The Theme: A Bold and Timely Call to Action.
”Today’s event marks not just the unveiling of a global report, but also a moment of deep reflection for us as a nation. “he stated.
He further reiterated that the Commission remain committed to generating reliable data through the conduct of a credible and inclusive Population and Housing Census that informs policies and programmes which are people-centered, inclusive, and rights-based.
According to UNFPA’s Representative in Nigeria, Koessan Kuawu, Nigeria’s fertility crisis begins from reproductive rights and access deficits rather than cultural preferences alone.
“The Nigerian fertility crisis is not normal; it is a failure to respect, protect, and fulfill individual reproductive rights,” Kuawu stated.
The report shows that Nigeria’s fertility rate stands at 4.3 births per woman, significantly higher than the global average.
A joint UNFPA-Google survey revealed that 30% of Nigerian men and 21% of women prefer having four or more children, citing health, economic, and social barriers that prevent them from realizing these preferences.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Population, Senator Victor Umeh advised against legislative attempts to regulate birth rates, advocating for education and awareness instead.
“Countries like China have attempted this approach, and it has not been particularly effective,” Umeh stated.
He stressed the importance of sex education for girls to understand their reproductive cycles and take control of their fertility.
Umeh commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for inaugurating a high-level committee to oversee the national population and housing census, highlighting the need for a technology-driven process to ensure credible and verifiable results.
FERTILITY CRISIS: Isa-Kwara Calls for Initiative to Drive Reproductive Health
By James Agbor, Abuja
The National Population Commission has emphazied the urgent need for stakeholders to work collaboratively toward solutions driven initiative that uphold the rights, health, and well-being of all Nigerians.
Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Nasir Isa-Kwara gave the assertion during an official launch of State of the World Population Report 2025, in Abuja with the THEME: “The Real Fertility Crisis: The Pursuit of Reproductive Health Agency in a Changing World”
He said the 2025 State of World Population Report rightly calls for a shift from policies focused on fertility rates to policies focused on reproductive agency.
Isa-kwara stressed that empowering individuals with information, access to services, and the freedom to choose is the most effective way to achieve both demographic balance and sustainable development.
”When people are able to make informed choices about their reproductive lives, they are more likely to invest in their education, in their families and in their communities.
”Let us commit to building a Nigeria where every woman and man, every girl and boy, has the freedom and means to shape their reproductive journey, free from coercion, discrimination, or fear. “Isa-Kwara revealed.
He however commended the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) not only for its leadership in producing this important annual flagship report but also for its steadfast commitment to shaping the global, regional and national agenda on population and development.
”We deeply value the longstanding partnership with UNFPA in promoting evidence-based, people-centered policies that prioritize the rights and well-being of all. The Theme: A Bold and Timely Call to Action.
”Today’s event marks not just the unveiling of a global report, but also a moment of deep reflection for us as a nation. “he stated.
He further reiterated that the Commission remain committed to generating reliable data through the conduct of a credible and inclusive Population and Housing Census that informs policies and programmes which are people-centered, inclusive, and rights-based.
According to UNFPA’s Representative in Nigeria, Koessan Kuawu, Nigeria’s fertility crisis begins from reproductive rights and access deficits rather than cultural preferences alone.
“The Nigerian fertility crisis is not normal; it is a failure to respect, protect, and fulfill individual reproductive rights,” Kuawu stated.
The report shows that Nigeria’s fertility rate stands at 4.3 births per woman, significantly higher than the global average.
A joint UNFPA-Google survey revealed that 30% of Nigerian men and 21% of women prefer having four or more children, citing health, economic, and social barriers that prevent them from realizing these preferences.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Population, Senator Victor Umeh advised against legislative attempts to regulate birth rates, advocating for education and awareness instead.
“Countries like China have attempted this approach, and it has not been particularly effective,” Umeh stated.
He stressed the importance of sex education for girls to understand their reproductive cycles and take control of their fertility.
Umeh commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for inaugurating a high-level committee to oversee the national population and housing census, highlighting the need for a technology-driven process to ensure credible and verifiable results.
LEAVE A REPLY
By James Agbor, Abuja
The National Population Commission has emphazied the urgent need for stakeholders to work collaboratively toward solutions driven initiative that uphold the rights, health, and well-being of all Nigerians.
Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Nasir Isa-Kwara gave the assertion during an official launch of State of the World Population Report 2025, in Abuja with the THEME: “The Real Fertility Crisis: The Pursuit of Reproductive Health Agency in a Changing World”
He said the 2025 State of World Population Report rightly calls for a shift from policies focused on fertility rates to policies focused on reproductive agency.
Isa-kwara stressed that empowering individuals with information, access to services, and the freedom to choose is the most effective way to achieve both demographic balance and sustainable development.
”When people are able to make informed choices about their reproductive lives, they are more likely to invest in their education, in their families and in their communities.
”Let us commit to building a Nigeria where every woman and man, every girl and boy, has the freedom and means to shape their reproductive journey, free from coercion, discrimination, or fear. “Isa-Kwara revealed.
He however commended the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) not only for its leadership in producing this important annual flagship report but also for its steadfast commitment to shaping the global, regional and national agenda on population and development.
”We deeply value the longstanding partnership with UNFPA in promoting evidence-based, people-centered policies that prioritize the rights and well-being of all. The Theme: A Bold and Timely Call to Action.
”Today’s event marks not just the unveiling of a global report, but also a moment of deep reflection for us as a nation. “he stated.
He further reiterated that the Commission remain committed to generating reliable data through the conduct of a credible and inclusive Population and Housing Census that informs policies and programmes which are people-centered, inclusive, and rights-based.
According to UNFPA’s Representative in Nigeria, Koessan Kuawu, Nigeria’s fertility crisis begins from reproductive rights and access deficits rather than cultural preferences alone.
“The Nigerian fertility crisis is not normal; it is a failure to respect, protect, and fulfill individual reproductive rights,” Kuawu stated.
The report shows that Nigeria’s fertility rate stands at 4.3 births per woman, significantly higher than the global average.
A joint UNFPA-Google survey revealed that 30% of Nigerian men and 21% of women prefer having four or more children, citing health, economic, and social barriers that prevent them from realizing these preferences.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Population, Senator Victor Umeh advised against legislative attempts to regulate birth rates, advocating for education and awareness instead.
“Countries like China have attempted this approach, and it has not been particularly effective,” Umeh stated.
He stressed the importance of sex education for girls to understand their reproductive cycles and take control of their fertility.
Umeh commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for inaugurating a high-level committee to oversee the national population and housing census, highlighting the need for a technology-driven process to ensure credible and verifiable results.
LEAVE A REPLY
By James Agbor, Abuja
The National Population Commission has emphazied the urgent need for stakeholders to work collaboratively toward solutions driven initiative that uphold the rights, health, and well-being of all Nigerians.
Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Nasir Isa-Kwara gave the assertion during an official launch of State of the World Population Report 2025, in Abuja with the THEME: “The Real Fertility Crisis: The Pursuit of Reproductive Health Agency in a Changing World”
He said the 2025 State of World Population Report rightly calls for a shift from policies focused on fertility rates to policies focused on reproductive agency.
Isa-kwara stressed that empowering individuals with information, access to services, and the freedom to choose is the most effective way to achieve both demographic balance and sustainable development.
”When people are able to make informed choices about their reproductive lives, they are more likely to invest in their education, in their families and in their communities.
”Let us commit to building a Nigeria where every woman and man, every girl and boy, has the freedom and means to shape their reproductive journey, free from coercion, discrimination, or fear. “Isa-Kwara revealed.
He however commended the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) not only for its leadership in producing this important annual flagship report but also for its steadfast commitment to shaping the global, regional and national agenda on population and development.
”We deeply value the longstanding partnership with UNFPA in promoting evidence-based, people-centered policies that prioritize the rights and well-being of all. The Theme: A Bold and Timely Call to Action.
”Today’s event marks not just the unveiling of a global report, but also a moment of deep reflection for us as a nation. “he stated.
He further reiterated that the Commission remain committed to generating reliable data through the conduct of a credible and inclusive Population and Housing Census that informs policies and programmes which are people-centered, inclusive, and rights-based.
According to UNFPA’s Representative in Nigeria, Koessan Kuawu, Nigeria’s fertility crisis begins from reproductive rights and access deficits rather than cultural preferences alone.
“The Nigerian fertility crisis is not normal; it is a failure to respect, protect, and fulfill individual reproductive rights,” Kuawu stated.
The report shows that Nigeria’s fertility rate stands at 4.3 births per woman, significantly higher than the global average.
A joint UNFPA-Google survey revealed that 30% of Nigerian men and 21% of women prefer having four or more children, citing health, economic, and social barriers that prevent them from realizing these preferences.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Population, Senator Victor Umeh advised against legislative attempts to regulate birth rates, advocating for education and awareness instead.
“Countries like China have attempted this approach, and it has not been particularly effective,” Umeh stated.
He stressed the importance of sex education for girls to understand their reproductive cycles and take control of their fertility.
Umeh commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for inaugurating a high-level committee to oversee the national population and housing census, highlighting the need for a technology-driven process to ensure credible and verifiable results.