The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim on Monday called for greater advocacy and funding to support family planning policies.
The minister made the appeal at the Women’s Pre-Conference event ahead of the 8th Nigeria Family Planning Conference, which will be held from Dec. 4 to 6 in Abuja.
She was represented by Mrs Christiana Oliko, the Overseeing Director of the Community and Social Intervention Department.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim stressed the need for pragmatic solutions and cross-sectoral collaboration to advance family planning in Nigeria.
“The seventh edition of the conference, held in 2022, provided a crucial opportunity for reflection and forward thinking.
“The eighth edition, focusing on pragmatic solutions with an emphasis on cross-sectoral collaboration and inclusive engagement, is being convened with specific objectives.
“These include facilitating discussions aimed at identifying and addressing barriers to the effective implementation of family planning policies and programmes at the grassroots level from the women’s perspective.
“We will also discuss and prioritise efforts to reach marginalised populations, including adolescents, rural communities, and underserved regions.
“Furthermore, we aim to amplify advocacy for increased women’s voices, funding, and resource allocation towards family planning programmes,” she stated.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim highlighted her ministry’s eagerness to collaborate with stakeholders on maternal and reproductive health issues.
She reaffirmed its commitment to implementing policies, guidelines, and initiatives aimed at upholding the rights of women and other vulnerable groups.
Dr Ojogun Tellson-Osifo, Director-General of the National Population Commission (NPC), described the country’s high birth rate as alarming.
“Nigeria today is bedevilled by an uncontrollable birth rate. This is a problem if we continue in that direction as a country,” he said.
He explained that recent data shows Nigeria’s high fertility rate has driven the population’s growth rate into a concerning geometric progression.
Osifo identified early marriage, unwanted pregnancies, cultural and social factors, and poverty as key contributors to this growth.
“We need to manage our population. The fertility rate of Nigerians is very high, and contraceptive use is very low. There are methods that could be put in place to manage births.
“We must find solutions that will promote birth spacing. We need to think outside the box to regulate birth spacing,” he stressed.
In her goodwill message, Mrs Geraldine Etuk, Acting National President of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) Nigeria, underscored the importance of family planning.
“Family planning is not a personal choice but a fundamental human right,” she said.
Etuk further emphasised that family planning is essential for empowering women, promoting gender equality, and reducing poverty.
She reaffirmed the council’s commitment to advocating for quality reproductive health services, education, and economic opportunities for women. (NAN)
