THE UNIVERSITY; AND THE FOLLOWING CONFERENCE PERSONALITIES: MR EL SHARFIE, OF THE UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC, WHO IS THE CONFERENCE CHAIRMAN; MR S.K. CAISIE, OF GHANA UNIVERSITY; MR R.C. DURU, OF LAGOS UNIVERSITY; PROFESSOR M. PERLMAN, OF PITTSBURGH UNIVERSITY, USA; DR W. BRASS, OF LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE AND TROPICAL MEDICINE; AND DR CHUKUKA OKONJO, OF THE CENTRE FOR POPULATION STUDIES, WHO, WITH DR J.C. CALDWELL, OF THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, IS ORGANISING THE CONFERENCE.




Initials JT/V/RM/SGM



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Background: AFRICA IS HOLDING ITS FIRST CONFERENCE ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST PRESSING PROBLEM: POPULATION CONTROL. IT IS BEING HELD AT IBADAN UNIVERSITY, IN WESTERN NIGERIA, WHERE THE CENTRE FOR POPULATION STUDIES.

MORE THAN 100 DELEGATES FROM FIVE CONTINENTS ARE ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE, WHICH OPENED ON MONDAY AND IS DUE TO END TOMORROW (FRIDAY). IT IS SPONSORED JOINTLY BY THE POPULATION COUNCIL OF NEW YORK AND IBADAN'S CENTRE FOR POPULATION STUDIES.

A WHOLE HOST OF PROBLEMS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, RANGING FROM POPULATION REGISTRATION TO FAMILY PLANNING AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE RISING BIRTH RATE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

ONE NIGERIAN SPEAKER URGED AFRICAN NATIONS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION, BEGINNING WITH POPULATION CENSUSES.