At the 5th Local Organising Committee (LOC) meeting for the 8th Nigeria Family Planning Conference (NFPC) scheduled for December, stakeholders underscored the critical role of family planning in regulating Nigeria’s rapid population growth.
The meeting, held in Abuja, included representatives from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), government agencies, and the media. Dr. Okai Aku, LOC member and Executive Director of the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN), highlighted that the biennial conference will focus on strategies to enhance family planning practices for the economic benefit of Nigerians.
“The population crisis is urgent,” Aku said. “We need to invest in managing our population through family planning and child spacing. This approach will enable us to provide essential services more effectively.”
Aku emphasized that while the goal is not to halt childbirth, a manageable population is crucial for planning and service provision. The conference will also address policy reforms and provide guidance to decision-makers and service providers on delivering high-quality family planning services.
“We will work to dispel myths and misconceptions about family planning and promote its benefits for national development,” Aku added. “Family planning can alleviate poverty, aid in budget planning, and support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
He noted that Nigeria’s commitment to family planning, established at the 2012 London Summit, remains a priority. However, the country needs to fulfill its promises in this area.
Dr. Ejike Oji, Chairman of the LOC, indicated that the conference will also evaluate the government’s efforts under President Bola Tinubu’s Renew Hope Agenda to transform the healthcare sector, while considering global commitments made by Nigeria.
The conference aims to advance discussions on effective family planning strategies and their implications for national development.
