Population
arguably remains the most integral part of the anticipated developmental stride
of any existing society. It is so, because, it’s one of the major factors that
determine the society’s net worth.
However, as we take into cognizance
the inevitable impact of population on societal uplift, it’s noteworthy that it
is only human population that bears such idiosyncrasy. It suffices to assert
that the population of other forms of organisms is relatively inconsequential,
economic wise, compared to that of the humankind.
Two prime
factors – natural and human resources – determine the Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) of every nation. It’s pertinent to acknowledge that the aforementioned
recipes are interwoven. Natural resources obviously require human resources
before it could be harnessed; thus, without the latter, the former would remain
crude or useless. Similarly, mankind unavoidably requires the natural resources
for life’s sustenance. Little wonder discerning leaders fiercely safeguard and
sustain these resources.
A country’s resources can only be aptly
managed by ensuring effective and efficient sustenance of its human population.
Towards a holistic sustenance of a given population, it’s imperative to note
the rudimentary factors that affect population growth, which are: birthrate,
death rate, and migration. Having carried out the census of a country’s
population, there’s need to checkmate the above factors in order to subsequently
boast of a robust and reliable database.
The
factual point is that, a reliable population record cannot be sustained without
involving Information Technology (IT). Ranging from census to update, each of
the exercises involved requires proper utilization of IT for laudable
functionality.
Owing to the overwhelming impact of IT
on every activity pertaining to population management, it’s high time the
National Population Commission (NPC) started deploying its use in the agency’s
day-to-day obligations.
It’s
appalling that the NPC cannot even boast of a reliable database as regards
Nigeria’s population, let alone sustaining it. The authority needs to
comprehend that the country requires a standard population record with a view
to boosting its socio-economic status, and such can never be obtained without a
substantive database. Among all, a database cannot currently be considered
viable if IT isn’t utilized. In other words, the concerned quarters are
expected to embrace IT wholeheartedly, considering that it is the only way
forward.
In
view of the above, our pattern of population census must be reviewed in
earnest. Hence, as the country prepares for the next population census, I
enjoin the NPC to strategize in order to ensure that IT is fully inculcated in
the overall scheme so that at the end of the national exercise, we as a people
can boast of a comprehensive IT-based population database.
Prior to the commencement of the said nationwide
exercise, the NPC should endeavour to establish an independent IT-oriented
department/unit. The unit ought to be entitled to a well-experienced indigenous
director.
Independent, in the sense that the unit must
have all the required resources to avoid intrusion. Well-experienced, meaning
literally that the prospective personnel must possess a convincing IT
expertise. And indigenous, in the sense that he/she must be a full-fledged
Nigerian; being indigenous would enable him/her to regularly carryout the
consignment diligently and patriotically.
The
unit ought to equally constitute personnel that are knowledgeable enough in the
field of ICT. Inter alia, there should be an agency that would oversee or monitor
the day-to-day running of the unit toward ensuring efficiency.
After
conducting the census, there would be need for constant and consistent thorough
update of the database, and such needs to be done by the IT unit. The records
need to be updated by subsequently observing the earlier mentioned fundamental
factors that affect population. A tactical approach ought to be employed toward
ensuring that the overall birthrate and death-rate occurring within the country
are regularly gathered regardless of the locality where the event took place.
Hence, every maternity and mortuary
operating across the federation must be duly certified by the NPC whereby every
child delivery or corpse deposition, as the case may be, would be instantly
reported to the commission via the respective ICT departments of the said
centres.
To
this end, in event of home child-delivery, such case needs to be reported to
any nearest maternity for onward documentation. Similarly, whenever one dies
and his/her corpse isn’t taken to the mortuary, the bereaved family is expected
to report such incident to the closest mortuary.
This policy implies that, henceforth,
any maternity or mortuary that isn’t recognized or approved by the NPC must be
shut down indefinitely. Such a monitoring measure would equally require setting
up of a mobile committee by the commission that would regularly oversee the
existence cum activity of all maternities and mortuaries.
Regarding
migration, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) is meant to work hand-in-hand
with the NPC. The cooperation would help to invariably update the latter on
immigration cum emigration matters. The proposed relationship would be
effective and easy by involving ICT.
Moreover, the NPC’s IT-department
ought to invariably make use of world-class softwares. The softwares must be
designed by the department’s staff for privacy sake. The unit is also required
to continually possess such classic devices cum personnel as anti-hacking
softwares, experts coupled with other sundry entitlements.
An all-inclusive statistics of Nigeria’s
population can only be properly sustained via the effort of IT and viable
policy. Since the country possesses all it takes to make the project feasible,
let’s not hesitate in applying the resources. Think about it!
FDN Nwaozor
Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub
____________________________
+2348028608056
Twitter:
@mediambassador
