Vice-President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s administration determination to improve the quality of life of the average Nigerian.
Shettima stated this on Tuesday in Abuja when he received a delegation from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) led by its Executive Director, Dr Natalia Kanem.
He said that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration was committed to harnessing the potential of the country’s huge population.
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” There is beauty in numbers but it’s also important in having qualitative numbers.
” Tinubu administration’s focus on women and children is premised on the fact that the health and vitality of any nation is measured by the way women and the girl child are treated.
” By educating the girl child, we can transform our communities into better places for everyone,” he said.
Shettima, who appreciated the support of the UNFPA to Nigeria over the years, said the Nigerian government also identifies with the aspirations and goals of the UNFPA.
” The UNFPA is one organisation that has identified with the challenges of the Nigerian nation over the decades.
” You are doing a wonderful job, you have continued from where your predecessor, the late Babatunde Osotimehin, stopped.”
Shettima appealed to the UNFPA and other development partners to support the Tinubu administration’s bid to actualise its goal of improving the welfare and wellbeing of Nigerians.
” Our growing population as a nation requires urgent action to be taken to improve the quality of lives and livelihoods.
” I urge you to leverage your influence and use your contacts to see that these challenges are resolved. Let’s work as a team and a family.”
Earlier, Kanem commended Nigeria’s longstanding partnership with the agency since 1973.
He extended an invitation to the Nigerian President to join her for the launch of the State of World Population (SoWP) report in Abuja on Wednesday.
” The launch of the SoWP report in Abuja presents an opportunity to further strengthen our partnership.
” The 2024 SoWP report will acknowledge achievements in sexual and reproductive health and rights while highlighting the persistent inequalities that need to be addressed.”
Kanem expressed her appreciation for Nigeria’s contribution to the 10-year review of the Addis Ababa Declaration on Population and Development (AADPD+10) held in Lusaka, Zambia, in November 2023.
