By Buhari Abba
Childbirth spacing has always been in most parts of northern Nigeria a thing of western agenda driven by ‘preconceived’ ideology to control population around the world especially in Africa and Nigeria in particular. This has been the perspective of the average northerner.
It is often frowned upon, dismissed and qualified to be non islamic, against culture and traditional setting. But in Rano Local Government Area of Kano State, the tide is turning, with men rethinking their roles and embracing childbirth spacing through community-based initiatives such as the Majalisa Forum – a traditional meeting point, a fora where men gather daily to discuss issues affecting them. More men now see it as a tool for healthier families and better household management.
Confessing, one of the members of the fora, Musa Ibrahim, a 38-year-old trader, recalled how he once rejected his wife’s request to adopt family planning.
“I used to think family planning would make my wife infertile,” he confessed. “But after hearing other men share their experiences, I realised it is about giving our wives rest and giving our children a better life. Now my wife is using an implant, and we are both happier.”
His wife, Amina, confirmed the change. She said, “Before, I was always tired. Now I have more energy to care for my children. I know when I am ready for another child, it will be safer for me,” she said.
Also speaking, Sani Yusuf, a 35-year-old shopkeeper, said he once believed family planning was a “foreign culture designed to weaken African families.
“But an elder in the community convinced me after sharing how his wife’s health improved. I took my wife to the hospital. She is now on an implant, and she is strong again. We can take better care of our children,” he explained.
Rising concerns over population growth
Nigeria, already Africa’s most populous country, faces an urgent population challenge. The World Bank projects the population will surge from 220 million to 377 million by 2050, making it the third most populous country globally.
In Kano, experts warn the situation could be more alarming. Consultant gynaecologist Dr. Yahaya Kabir Sani of the Kano State Hospital Management Board noted that the state’s high fertility rate and low contraceptive uptake could push its population beyond 50 million by 2050.
“Presently, the use of modern contraceptive methods in the state stands at 5.8 per cent, far below the national average,” he revealed in an interview with Kano Times.
Kabir Sani recalled that family planning uptake in Kano rose from 1.3 per cent in 2013 to 5.8 per cent in 2018 but warned that the state still records a fertility rate of 5.8 compared to the national average of 5.3.
“The state government has adopted free family planning services, the national costed implementation plan, and integrated outreach to curb uncontrolled growth,” he added.
An economist, Dr. Muhammad Aliyu of Bayero University Kano pointed out that large families are still considered an economic asset in rural areas.
“In agrarian societies, children are seen as free labour for farming, street trading, and other informal jobs,” he said.
Majalisa Forum driving change
To tackle resistance, MSI Reproductive Choices introduced the Majalisa Forum model in Rano in 2024, embedding childbirth spacing discussions into men’s daily gatherings.
“We realised men already had a structure where they gathered to talk. So instead of creating a new programme, we embedded childbirth spacing conversations into their majalisa,” explained Abdullahi Musa, a community advisor.
At the Autan Bawo Clinic in Rano, head nurse Hajiya Ado Rano said male participation has changed the narrative.
“Before, we received only four to seven clients a day. Now, we see over 100 daily. Many adopt IUDs, implants and other methods after counselling,” she said, although she noted challenges such as shortages of commodities and the need for more training.
Traditional, religious leaders backing the shift
The Emir of Rano, Alhaji Muhammad Isah Umaru (Autan Bawo), said childbirth spacing is now gaining wider credibility.
He made this disclosure while responding to journalists who visited his palace as part of the “Solutions Journalism Field Reporting Trip,” describing the shift as one of the most significant changes in recent years.
Umar said, “Our men have accepted different methods of child spacing, and this has helped reduce the situation where families have more children than they can cater for.
Now, parents are seeing the benefits. Spaced children are healthier and happier, while mothers are stronger and better positioned to care for their households.”
Sheikh Muhammad Zubair, an Islamic scholar, described childbirth spacing as an effective way of maintaining the good health of both mother and child.
“Islam encourages parents to space their children to protect the health of the mother and ensure the wellbeing of the baby,” he said.
He added that Islam permits its followers to plan the number of children they can adequately cater for in order to avoid giving birth to children who may end up neglected and roaming the streets without proper parental care.
“Responsible parenthood is part of Islamic teaching. It is better to have children you can raise with dignity than to bring many into the world without the means to care for them,” Sheikh Zubair explained.
Government commitment
The Kano State Government is also stepping up. In December 2024, it launched a Family Planning Strategic Plan targeting over 845,000 women between 2025 and 2030.
According to Mrs. Zara’u Ibrahim, a focal person at the State Primary Healthcare Board, 756 health facilities now provide childbirth spacing services with more than 500 trained community health workers and 413 youth-friendly centres.
“Before, women came in secret. Now, men come with their wives and even ask for long-term methods,” she disclosed.
The state has also committed N500 million in 2025, with N50 million already disbursed, and domesticated procurement guidelines to source commodities directly rather than depending only on donors.
A quiet shift under the trees
Despite lingering challenges, observers note that change is already visible in Rano. Where men once dismissed childbirth spacing as aliens, they now gather under trees in their majalisa to openly discuss contraceptives and support their wives’ health decisions — a quiet but significant shift that may shape the future of families in Kano.
This story was supported by Nigeria Health Watch in partnership with MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices and the Family Planning News Network (FPNN), through the Solutions Journalism Network.