Iliyasu Abdullahi Bah
Adamu Jaji, Head of the Counselling Unit at the Specialist Hospital in Damaturu, has urged residents of Northern Nigeria to fully embrace family planning as a critical strategy to tackle the rising tide of social vices and underdevelopment in the region.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Journal Nigeria, Jaji directly linked the prevalence of miscreants and societal disorder in the North to the challenges faced by parents unable to adequately care for large families due to limited economic resources. He argued that this often leads to a cycle of poverty, neglect, and a lack of opportunities for children—conditions which in turn hinder societal progress.
“The root of many social problems can be traced to a lack of planning,” Jaji stated. “When parents bring more children into the world than they can realistically feed, educate, and nurture, it sets the stage for an undeveloped and unstable society. These children, left without guidance or means, often end up contributing to the very issues that hold our community back.”
Jaji emphasized that family planning is not a foreign concept but a practical tool for ensuring the well-being of both parents and children. He explained that its purpose is to enable parents to have the number of children they can responsibly raise, thereby providing them with quality upbringing, education, and a chance at a better future.
“To deliver a developed and prosperous Northern society,” he continued, “we must align our family sizes with our economic realities. It is about responsible parenthood. By planning our families, we are not just investing in our children’s future, we are investing in the future of the entire North.”
The counselling unit head revealed that his office actively engages married couples and youths, educating them on the socio-economic benefits of family planning. He noted that common concerns and misconceptions are addressed through counselling, highlighting how planned families contribute to improved maternal and child health, reduced financial strain, and a more stable and disciplined society.
Jaji also called on community leaders, religious figures, and government agencies to support and promote this message. According to him, embracing family planning is not just about controlling numbers but about shaping a more prosperous, peaceful, and disciplined Northern Nigeria for generations to come.