Stemming the tide of population upshot

 

ACCORDING to the US Census Bureau there is one birth every 8 seconds, one death every 12 seconds, one international migrant (net) every 33 seconds, and a net gain of one person every 12 seconds in the United States.

On a general note, population growth is described as the average annual percent change in the population, resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and leaving a country. It notes that the rate may be positive or negative.

However, this growth rate is a factor in determining how great a burden would be imposed on a country by the changing needs of its people for infrastructure -e.g. schools, hospitals, housing, roads as well as other resources such as food, water, electricity and jobs. On a larger scale, rapid population growth is seen as threatening by many countries.

In the Nigerian instance, the index mundi on the Nigerian Population Growth Rate gives the nation’s rate at an estimation of 2.44percent by 2016. As of today, August 2^nd 2017, Nigeria’s current overall population was pegged at 192, 274, 975 based on the latest United Nations estimates.

This means, my nation ranks equivalent to 2.55percent of the total world population and number 7 in the list of countries and dependencies) by population, and still counting.

And for a country with a population forecast of 206,830,983 by the Year 2020, that is, just about three years away; still burdened with a continuously updated estimate of the current population, all hands need to be on deck to stem the tide.

Stemming the tide? Does that mean men and women shouldn’t get married again? Of course, not. It simply means that we need a saner and better moralised society.

Starting with you and I, your brother and sister, father and mother, government and the governed and all strata of the Nigerian society to be better enlightened and work at what we all can do to help our society.

Hence,

·         Nigeria must document the number of unmarried young men and women in the country

·         Our leaders need to have grips on the rising trend of illegal marriages, polygamy, bigamy and scores of teenage pregnancies.

·         Number of children born out of wedlock should be curbed …and

·         We all must do everything possible within our respective means to ensure that our beloved country, Nigeria, does not further exceed her already exceeded the carrying capacity.

We’ll continue tomorrow. Thank you for reading me.

I remain professionally yours,

By the way, my name is
Joke Kujenya
a.k.a. JK
Investigative Journalist, Social Media Enthusiast, Mentor, Trainer & Blogger
<journalistjoke@gmail.com>

World Population Day 2017: A Call for Action

World Population Day is an annual event, observed on July 11 every year, which seeks to raise awareness of global population issues. The event was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989.

THE July 11th 2017 World Population Day focused on the unsustainable impacts of continued global population growth. It is assumed that this is putting increased pressure on government resources, the environment and those struggling to escape poverty. 

Amid that, hope still remains for the future as action to bring down and eventually reverse population growth can be taken. 

But how can this action be taken unless you and I know what exactly to do? Surprisingly, only a few number of world population was even aware that the WPD was commemorated, let alone, knowing there is a call on us all for action.

According to the United Nations, throughout the world, urban populations are growing in size at a considerably faster rate than rural populations. As a result, by the end of this century, and for the first time in history, the majority of the word's population will be living in
urban areas.  The UN also described urbanization as an element of the process of 
modernization. 

However, while in certain countries, this process is efficiently managed and maximum use is made of the advantages this management presents, in others, urbanization takes place in an
uncontrolled manner and is accompanied by overcrowding in certain districts, an increase in slums, deterioration of the environment, urban unemployment and many other social and economic problems. 

Painfully, this is just an embryonic impression of the humongous situation in view. While that remains an indisputable fact, there are actions you and I should take as beckoned on by the UN.

Expected Action:
In the estimation of the United Nations, global population will swell to 9 billion by the year 2050.  These growths, the UN affirms, will mostly occur in urban areas and emerging economies such as Asia, Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa, while cities such as Lagos State of Nigeria, Delhi in India and Sao Paolo in Brazil will become the largest in the world, while rural areas will lose inhabitants.

So, I bring this home. If Lagos, my city of birth, residence and career is going to be so overblown in a matter of years; then, it is quite salient that I take action along with many others. 

Based on current facts:
* One billion people around the world do not get enough to eat 
* A nearly equal amount about 1.4 billion are overweight and likely to suffer from various health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease 
* More than 200 million women across the globe have unmet needs for contraception, keeping them from planning and how many children they want to have and when 
* Women farmers lack access to land, credit and education and they find it harder for them to provide for their families
* U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that if women had the same access to these services as men, global malnutrition could be reduced by 12 to 17 percent...

I can go on but these suffice. As we all come to the realization of the impending population crises, let us take the following actions but not limited to these... In fact, you can share more as you think of actions that can be taken.

Action Points:
* Share sex education and birth control knowledge with the younger generation
* Support Family Planning and Child Spacing Programmes
* As a grandparent, don’t pressure your children to give more grandchildren they can afford to cope with
* Encourage your couples to consider the number of children they would have 
* Sensitize people in your immediate environment
*Talk about all of this out in the open and talk as much as possible. 

By the way, my name is
Joke Kujenya
a.k.a. JK
Investigative Journalist, Social Media Enthusiast, Mentor, Trainer & Blogger
journalistjoke@gmail.com

Titbits: Nigeria's Population as of today

• In 1960 Nigeria’s population was estimated to be 45.2 million people. 

• In 2015, the estimated number of people in Nigeria had grown to 182.2 million, a 300% increase in 56 years. 

• Nigeria is estimated to be the third most populous country in the world by 2050 with a population of 399 million people. 

• Nigeria’s population is growing faster than development can cater to, faster than resources to maintain it, faster than the best attempt at any type of population control.

• By NBS estimates, Nigeria's population now 193.3 million

• Nigeria's population growth rate unsustainable - FG

• Nigeria's Labour Force Population Hits 76.96 million –NBS

• Nigeria's population rises to 193.4 million according to NBS forecast...

Population matters ...From The Beginning

Photo: Joke Kujenya, speaking on the Role of Media in Population Reporting

Population Matters ...From the Beginning

Hello there,

Starting from today, we shall be discussing matters on Family Planning, Child Spacing, Population Growth and or Explosion and all that we need to know. 

As you know, there are several intelligent information several individuals are not aware of, hence, they lack the knowledge of what to do or what their reactions should be, to stem it all.

It must be stated categorically that I do not pretend to be a know-it-all; so, I will be sharing, most of the time, experts opinion on every subject matter as we continue this intellectual journey, commencing just about now. 

And as the momentous suggests, let us start from the beginning ...

What is your understanding of  Family Planning?

What is your understanding of Child Spacing?

What is your understanding of Population Growth?

What is your understanding of Population Explosion?

What should a couple know and do?

What should family members do?

What should younger generation do? 

The questions are more, the answers are even much more and inexhaustible... So, let us start and day by day, we shall dish out what we know, what investigative reporting reveal, what news reports are saying as well as those concerned, views from experts on this and many more.

By the way, my name is

Joke Kujenya

a.k.a. JK

Investigative Journalist, Social Media Enthusiast, Mentor, Trainer & Blogger