A legal Icon, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, has described the high population of Nigeria asajor factor contributing to economic woes.
Olanipekun who spoke while delivering a Convocation Speech at Babvock University ,Ilisha-Remo ,Ogun State on Sunday, affirmed that the Nigeria’s increasing population is a time bomb that would explode at any time
In his speech entitled “GO AND REPLENISH THE EARTH:MAN’S MISCONCEPTION OF GOD’S MANDATE,Olanipekun called for an effective management of the nation’s population growth with proper review of the population policies.
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
The former chairman, Body of Benchers said ” for centuries, man has misconceived the biblical mandate charging him to “go and replenish the earth” as a command to recklessly populate the earth, without caution.
“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 admonished the Nigeria to understudy China”‘s development model,particularly, hiw the People’s Republic was able to manage her population to compliment 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. Truth be told, our
“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 Democrati
