Rotimi Idris
A legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, has decried Nigeria’s uncontrolled rising population, saying it pretends grave danger to the development of the country.
Olanipekun stated this while delivering a convocation commencement speech, entitled “Go and Replenish the Earth: Man’s Misconception of Mandate”, at Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State.
The legal icon who called for an effective management of the nation’s population growth with proper review of the population policies, called on Nigeria’s policy makers to take a cue from China, which through planning and effective coordination has been able to turn its large population into wealth creators.
This was just as he admonished the Nigerian youths ,particularly, young graduates to shun the idea of mad rush to foreign lands in search of greener pastures.
His words, “My plea still remains, that we have to salvage the dehydrating situation which drives our youths from their homestead”
He cautioned them against being overwhelmed by the flood of societal problems and pressure, which could make them resort to rash decisions.
The former chairman, Body of Benchers lamented the misconception and wrong interpretation of the biblical myths “go and replenish the earth” which may have fueled the propensity for more births.
“To live up to the true meaning and intent of this God’s given mandate, our focus must be on contributions to humanity rather than uncontrolled population, which invariably chokes the available limited resources in diverse ways.
“My research has not yet assisted me to locate any particular man in the world whose success has been measured or determined by the plurality of the children he has flooded his immediate environment with rather than the magnitude of his success and positive impacts on his environment.
“The first couple created by God was Adam and Eve, and the Bible records that they had three children, the first being Cain, followed by Abel, and when Cain killed Abel, they gave birth to Seth. It is not recorded in the Bible that both Adam and Eve were unproductive to the extent that they could not have more than three children.
“It is curious that Nigeria remains one of the very rare countries where the distribution of revenue from the Revenue Allocation Account is based, amongst others, on the principles of landmass, and population density. “
Olanipekun called on Nigeria’s leaders to design Nigeria’s population control measures after China’s development model, particularly, how the People’s Republic was able to manage her population to complement her economic and social development.
“China stands as a notable exception amongst countries of the world with high populations and abject poverty. While China is one of the most populous countries in the world, it has managed to lift millions out of the ruthless conundrum of poverty through sustained economic growth, industrialization, and effective governance.
“China is a success story today, and the secret of this narrative, I dare say, is not unconnected with the country’s periodic review of its population policies, starting with the One-Child Policy, which was implemented in 1979, restricting couples to having only one child. The Policy was designed to help control China’s population growth, which was skyrocketing at the time and seen as a threat to the country’s economic and social development.”
He explained that “Nigeria, as of now, has an over-bloated population, that if not timeously checked and controlled would plunge the country into an unmitigated hysteria.
“Nigeria is the 6th most populated country in the world, queuing after India with 1,441,7Billion population, China with 1,425,18Billion population, United States of America with 341,81Million population, Indonesia with 289.8Million, Pakistan with 245,21Million population, Nigeria with 229.15Million population, and followed by Brazil with 217.64Million, Bangladesh with 174.7Million population, Russia with 143.96Million, Ethiopia with 129.72Million, Mexico with 129.39Million, Japan with 122.63Million population, Egypt with 114.48Million population, and Democratic Republic of the Congo with 105.63Million population, Turkey with 86.26Million, Germany with 83.25Million, and Thailand with 71.89Million population.
“Our present estimated population of 227Million, is not proximate to or aligned with our GDP of US$1,636 per capita; unemployment rate of 5%; inflation rate of 33.95%; while food insecurity/scarcity stares us stoically in the face. It is projected that Nigeria will hit a population of 400Million by 2050.
“It appears some Nigerian leaders, particularly, from the Northern part of Nigeria are now getting worried, and rightly in my view, about the uncontrolled population growth in the Northern part of Nigeria. No less a personality than former President Muhammadu Buhari was quoted as saying that he was worried by the ‘phenomenon’. Shortly before then, the Northern Governors, under the aegis of Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) in a communique issued after their last meeting in Kaduna, stated, amongst others, that “Climate Change, unsustainable agricultural practices and population growth posed significant challenges to the region.
“One would have been disturbed and disappointed if notable and respected Northern leaders were not conscious of the threat that uncontrolled population in the North poses to the region, for several reasons. Nigeria is mostly densely populated in the North-Western Region, and more than every other Region, the figurative albatross of poverty hovers over the Region. The Human Development Index illustrates that Northern Nigeria has the lowest literacy rates in the country. Limited access to quality education, especially for girls, perpetuates a cycle of poverty and limits economic opportunities, thus, life expectancy, education, and per capita income in northern Nigeria score poorly with significant portions of the population living below the poverty line”.
Admonishing the youths on “Japa Syndrome “Olanipekun said “Nigerian youths should be very careful or cautious, sober and reflective at migrating from Nigeria to any nation or country for that matter, as all that glitters over there is not gold.
“This exodus mantra is now termed ‘japa syndrome’. Most of them, including even adults in their late forties, fifties and sixties are nursing the ambition of migrating from Nigeria, not caring what type of odd jobs or debilitating weather conditions they will meet yonder. The poignant question arises, to wit, who is to blame for this absurdity? Is it the government, the elderly generation or the youths?
“The answer is a mixed-bag of an equally confusing conundrum. No wonder Shakespeare quipped that: “the fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings”. As recently as January 31, 2024, I presented a fairly researched paper on this beleaguering subject, and my counsel then, which I would like to re-echo here is that our youths should be very careful or cautious, sober and reflective at migrating from Nigeria to any nation or country for that matter, as all that glitters over there is not gold.”
The event attracted dignitaries from all walks of life including the Governors of Ogun and Ekiti States , His Excellencies Dr. Dapo Abiodun and Biodun Oyebanji .Also at the event were : Prof Idowu Olayinka, former Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan; Prof Timothy Adebayo, Vice-Chancellor, Ajayi Crowther University, Prof Folashade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos and Mr. Bode Dada, President Chartered Institute of Stock Brokers
Others are ; the Registrar/Chief Executive of JAMB, Pof Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, Acting Secretary, National Universities Commission, Mr. Chris Maiyaki, Ojo Adebayo, SAN (former Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Oyo State and Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu.