Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday said the administration of President Bola Tinubu is determined to improve the quality of life of the average Nigerian.
This resolve is evident in some of the administration’s policies and programmes designed to harness the potential of the country’s vast population.
“There is beauty in numbers but it also important in having qualitative numbers…Our growing population as a nation requires urgent action to be taken to improve the quality of lives and livelihoods,” Shettima told a delegation from the United Nations Population Fund led by its Executive Director, Dr. Natalia Kanem, at the State House, Abuja.
The VP’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed Wednesday titled, ‘VP Shettima affirms Tinubu administration’s resolve to uplift Nigerians’ welfare, harness population potential.’
The Vice President premised the administration’s focus on women and children on the belief that “the health and vitality of any nation is measured by the way women and the girl child are treated.
“By educating the girl child, we can transform our communities into better places for everyone,” he added.
Shettima who appreciated the support of the UNFPA to Nigeria over the years said the Nigerian government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also identifies with the aspirations and goals of the UNFPA.
He remarked, “The UNFPA is one organization that has identified with the challenges of the Nigerian nation over the decades.
“You are doing a wonderful job, you have continued from where your predecessor, the late Babatunde Osotimehin, stopped.”
Recalling his days as the Governor of Borno State, the VP recounted the role played by the agency, “identifying with the yearnings and aspirations of our people during our darkest hours. The UNFPA was a permanent feature in Borno State.”
Therefore, Shettima appealed to the UNFPA and other development partners to support the Tinubu administration’s bid to actualize its goal of improving the welfare and wellbeing of Nigerians.
“Our growing population as a nation requires urgent action to be taken to improve the quality of lives and livelihoods.
“I urge you to leverage your influence and use your contacts to see that these challenges are resolved. Let’s work as a team and a family,” the VP stated.
Earlier, the Executive Director of UNFPA, Kanem, commended Nigeria’s longstanding partnership with the agency since 1973.
She invited the Nigerian President to join her for the launch of the State of World Population report at the State House Confrence Centre, Abuja, on Wednesday, April 24.
Emphasising Nigeria’s strategic role in Africa and globally, Kanem affirmed: “The launch of the SoWP report in Abuja presents an opportunity to further strengthen our partnership.
“The 2024 SoWP report will acknowledge achievements in sexual and reproductive health and rights while highlighting the persistent inequalities that need to be addressed.”
She also thanked the government for Nigeria’s contribution to the 10-year review of the Addis Ababa Declaration on Population and Development held in Lusaka, Zambia, in November 2023.
A major focus of Tuesday’s visit was advocating for the completion of the Population and Housing Census within the 2020 Round of Censuses.
Kanem reiterated UNFPA’s commitment to supporting the process by mobilizing additional donor resources to bridge any funding gaps and reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to advocating for the health and rights of women, girls, and young people in Nigeria while urging state and local governments to invest in family planning and education.
Also present at the meeting were the Chairman of the National Population Commission, Isa Kwarra; the DG of the Commission, Dr. Tellson Ojogun; some Federal Commissioners of the Commission; the UNFPA Regional Director, West and Central Africa, Dr Sennen Hounton, and the Deputy Representative/OIC, UNFPA, Mr Koessan Kuawu, among others.
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