By Ikenna Osuoha
Abuja – Mr Batholomew Ochonye, the Country Director, Heartland Alliance International (HAI) says quality population is necessary to achieving Demographic Dividend (DD).
Ochonye told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday that there should be more investment in provision of social amenities for a quality population.
He stressed the need for government and others in authority to improve education, health and other public amenities.
He urged government to harness the potential of its population to achieve development and demographic dividends.
He explained that “countries like China and India have large population but are very rich, while some like Swaziland with 1.4 million people is poor.
“This is because China and India harnessed the potential of their demographic dividends.
The country director, who called for increased investment on population, said that education was key to building quality population.
He expressed hope in Nigeria’s ability to build a productive population through provision of social infrastructure.
He noted that “I see population as a blessing, not a curse. What is important is making people productive.’’
Ochonye added that only quality and asset-based population could change the economic state of any nation for the better.
(NAN)
