Chairman of the National Population Commission, Eze Duruiheoma, says only reaching demographic dividend by engaging the base of Nigeria's productive-age youth can permanently drag the country out of recession.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Annual Population Lecture Series slated for Monday in Abuja, he said, "If Nigeria enjoys demographic dividend, we should be able to get out recession."

"If our youths are gainfully employed, it should have a ripple effect on the country," he said.

Nigeria will need to begin a demographic transition by "reducing its fertility rate, therefore mortality, and improving its population," said Duruiheoma.

A demographic dividend will mean ensuring the working population exceeds population of dependents by harnessing its strengths.

"Harnessing the population is about education, relevant employment and child spacing," said Dr Okai Aku, director of programmes at Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria.

Bimbola Salu-Kundeyin, federal commissioner for Lagos state, said, "To reap demographic dividend, there must be adequate investment in education and conscious move to employ those from school."

Young people aged 15 to 40 account for 60% of the country's population but few are gainfully employed.

"If efforts are made to invest in their education, equip them with skills they need in life and provide job opportunities, we are coasting home" said Salu-Kundeyin.

"If we keep multiplying beyond our means, it is recipe for disaster."

source: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/only-working-youths-can-drag-nigeria-from-recession-says-npc.html

Meanwhile the 3million yearly jobs that APC falsely promised them was rather a more than 5million job loss within 2year."That is [/s]Chain[s] Change"

"If we keep multiplying beyond our means, it is recipe for disaster."

Unproductive population is the bane on our development..