According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), over 410 births were recorded between August and September 2015 and 187 marriages were conducted at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Borno and Adamawa states.

Hmmm.. Let me just break down the sentence above in layman terms for better understanding.

In only two months (August & September), the number of babies born in the IDP camps (which is where people whose homes were destroyed by Boko Haram are sheltered) has risen to a toll of FOUR HUNDRED AND TEN (410) and the marriages conducted in these camps were ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SEVEN (187).

This information above drives me to ask the question DO WE REPRODUCE BECAUSE WE CHOOSE TO (optional) OR BECAUSE WE HAVE TO (compulsory)?

Click on the link below to continue reading

http://alocovivavoce.com/2015/12/09/reproduction-a-choice-or-necessity/

Reproduction is a NECESSITY we have to CHOOSE. Contradictory?
It's a necessity cos it will be good to keep your lineage going and to have someone to call yours through thick and thin, yeah? And a choice cos you have to make sure you can really take care of the child you're about bringing into the world. To me, it's a necessary choice.

Good thinking. Very timely topic.
As Africans, reproduction is a MUST!, but it shouldn't be!! Just as we've been clamouring that marriage isn't a must, reproduction also, shouldn't be.

There's pressure all around married couples to reproduce in earnest, as if they are the rulers of their lives. While it's an awesome step for some, its a thing of plan and choice for others. I've seen couples who, after marriage, decided to wait for months, years, before deciding to finally start child bearing. Its their choice and the society must learn to respect it.

Reproduction definitely should not be a must.
Firstly, some people are not fit to be parents. Let's save the society the agony thrust on us through those kids brought up by horrible parents.
Secondly some are just destined to leave a legacy behind which having kids might interfere with. Actually a good and sound legacy is bettter than thousands of kids. Example is Mother Teresa.

Lastly some people can not just reproduce. Reproductive systems problems. Do we say those people have failed or need to see themselves as inadequate because of that?
I believe its ok if one decides not to have kids. Kids do not define a woman or a man, rather its who and what you are and what you stand for instead.