WILBERFORCE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES (WJSS)
ISSN: 2504 – 9232
Volume 10, No. 1, March, 2025
Pages 34-62
DOI: 10.36108/wjss/5202.01.0130
KANO DEMOGRAPHIC DYNAMICS AND THE MALTHUSIAN THEORETICAL WARNING LESSONS FOR NIGERIA (2006-2023)
WILLIAMS EHIZUWA ORUKPE
Abstract
The population of a state is a source of national power when properly harnessed through human capacity development. But when national population outgrows existing resources geometrically, the Malthusian theory of population growth warns of national implosion. In Nigeria, the population of Kano is arguably growing geometrically while the resources for sustaining the people are growing arithmetically. Hence, focusing on poverty, resource scarcity, unemployment, illiteracy, food insecurity, public healthcare deficiency, terrorism and banditry as resultant overpopulation nuisances in Kano and national security threats in Nigeria. This paper applies the Malthusian theoretical warning on unchecked population in the country. Using the historical research methodology, this study chronicles the development of Kano metropolis and spotlighted its demographic dynamics. To achieve the objective of the study, secondary sources were combined with experiential learning; and the data gathered were subjected to qualitative and constructive analysis. Findings of the study were that, population growth in Kano in addition to presenting national development opportunities is also worrisome. But Kano’s burden of overpopulation is reversible through increased government investment in human capital development and actionable population management policies. This study concludes that through family planning, girl child education, early sex education, and economic development planning Nigeria can reach optimum population level in Kano and elsewhere.
Keywords: Kano, Nigeria, Malthusian theory, population, implosion