By Dipo Olowookere
Suggestions have been given to the Nigerian government on how to manage the country’s huge population, which is projected to hit 400 million by 2050, for a productive economy.
The nation’s economy is still struggling after exiting recession in 2017, a year after it dipped into economic crisis as a result of decline in the prices of oil on the global scene as well as drop in its production as a result of attacks on its oil facilities by militants in the Niger Delta region of the country.
At the just concluded 25th Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, CEO of Jumia Nigeria, Ms Juliet Anammah, said government should give its citizens access to quality education for a productive economy.
According to her, there is a need for policies that support micro industries in order to tackle unemployment, stressing that, “Providing unemployed youths with internet-enabled smartphones is one of the infrastructures that could take millions out of unemployment.”
While commenting on Nigeria in 2050: Boom or Bust, the Jumia chief said, “We need policies that support micro industries. We have millions of people under-employed today.”
She asked, “How do we tackle it?” answering that, “Providing unemployed youths with enabled Internet smartphones is one infrastructure that could take millions out of unemployment.”
Also speaking at the event which had Bishop Mathew Kukah, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, amongst others, the Emir of Kano, Mr Lamido Sanusi, said Nigeria’s huge population was yet to be converted to productive use.
According to him, Nigeria’s huge population is a liability and not assets, attributing the negative vices ravaging the country on huge, uneducated population.
Adedapo Adesanya