2025 WORLD POPULATION DAY: NPC URGES STAKEHOLDERS TO PRIORITIZE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Today, 22nd July 2025, in a powerful address at the 2025 National Commemoration of World Population Day in Abuja, the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra emphasized the urgent need to empower young people to shape their futures and families in a fair and hopeful world.

He stated that empowering young people is not charity; rather it is a sustainable development strategy that requires that we invest in young people to harness the demographic dividend.

With over 60% of Nigeria's population under the age of 30, Hon. Kwarra urged stakeholders to place the aspirations of the nation’s youth at the forefront of development strategies. He said, ‘with this population structure, we are among the few countries with a youthful and growing population. This presents us not with a crisis, but with a powerful opportunity.’

‘If properly harnessed, this demographic structure can fuel innovation, productivity, and inclusive growth. But to achieve this, we must put the needs, voices, and aspirations of young people at the heart of our development agenda.’

Hon. Kwarra noted that although the world marked this day globally on 11th July, we gather here today, on July 22nd to reflect deeply on what this year’s theme truly demands of us as a nation and as stewards of Nigeria’s population and development agenda.

This year’s theme, “Empowering Young People to Create the Families They Want in a Fair and Hopeful World,” highlights the critical intersection of youth empowerment and sustainable development.

The NPC Chairman noted that while global population growth is slowing, Nigeria's youthful demographic presents a unique opportunity for innovation and productivity.

“We must invest in quality education, health services, and economic empowerment to harness the demographic dividend,” he stated, calling for a collective commitment from government, civil society, and the private sector. He stressed the importance of listening to the voices of young Nigerians, who are eager to contribute and lead.

Hon. Kwarra also acknowledged ongoing government efforts to implement national policies aimed at fostering sustainable development. The Chairman reaffirmed the National Population Commission's dedication to generating accurate data to inform decision-making and address the challenges young people face.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of Senate Committee on National Identity and Population, Senator Victor Umeh, stressed that accurate and disaggregated data was vital for youth empowerment, equitable resource allocation, and sound policymaking.

“With over half of Nigeria’s population under the age of 30, the country’s future depends on the youth. But to empower them effectively, we need reliable data,” Umeh stated.

He warned that without accurate population figures, development efforts in critical sectors like housing, education, and healthcare could be poorly targeted.

Sen. Umeh, strongly advocated for the timely conduct of a credible Population and Housing Census, which is essential for inclusive development and youth-responsive policy.

He concluded by pledging the commitment of the Senate to providing the necessary legislative framework to ensure that Nigeria’s population data is accurate, timely, and inclusive, and that youth empowerment remains central to our national development agenda.

Also speaking, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on National Population and Identity, Hon. Okunjimi Odimayo, said the absence of up-to-date statistics hindered national development.

“Without timely data, we risk building policies on assumptions,” he said, urging President Bola Tinubu to prioritise the national census.

On her part, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr, Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, observed that many women, particularly in rural and underserved areas, still lack official identification, which excludes them from accessing healthcare, financial services, legal protection, and social security.

She noted that promoting inclusive and accessible identity registration for women and girls must be central to the population development strategy. She emphasised the importance of deploying mobile registration services, leveraging technology, empowering local women-led groups, and raising public awareness to reach those currently unreached.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim noted that the day provides another opportunity to reflect on the population realities influencing national development and to promote policies that leave no one behind, especially women and girls.

She emphasised that women and girls make up nearly half of Nigeria’s estimated 223 million population, highlighting that with about 20 per cent of the population being girls under 15, the future of the nation depends on how effectively the country invests in their visibility, identity, education, and well-being.

In his remarks, Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, stated that our nation is blessed with a vibrant and growing youth population—an asset that holds huge potential for national transformation. But this potential can only be fully realised when young people are supported, informed, and empowered to make choices that align with their aspirations and realities.

He said that the Ministry of Youth is committed to working with partners across sectors to ensure that every young person—regardless of gender, background, or location—can exercise their rights, develop their potential, and contribute meaningfully to our society.

United Nations Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator, Ms. Elsie Attafuah stressed that the right to make decisions about one's own body, health, and future is not a luxury, but it is a right. She said that when that right is denied, the consequences ripple through education systems, labour markets, healthcare, and national prosperity.

‘Empowering young people, especially young women, to shape their futures is one of the smartest investments a country can make,’ she remarked.

She noted that young Nigerians are not waiting for permission to lead; rather they are already doing so, in classrooms, boardrooms, markets, hospitals, and advocacy platforms. What they need is enabling systems, supportive families, and a society that listens to them, believes them and invests in them.

Delivering a goodwill message, the UNFPA Deputy Representative and Officer-in-Charge, Mr. Koessan Kuawu, revealed that the recent State of World Population report highlighted that financial stress, health concerns, societal backlash against women’s rights, and global challenges significantly impact young people’s decisions regarding family size which led to many anticipating having fewer children than they ideally want.

He warned that misguided assumptions – such as the notion that young people prioritize careers over children or that "selfishness" dictates their choices – can lead to policies that inadvertently worsen the very issues they aim to solve.

Representative of Young People, Ms. Benstowe Tamunolanyeofori Hephzibah called on the government to empower young Nigerians, make policies that guarantee their right to education, healthcare, and reproductive choice, because a nation that invests in its young people is a nation that invests in peace, progress, and prosperity.

Chairman of the Association of the Advancement of the Family Planning (AAFP), Dr. Ejike Oji urged the Federal Government to take deliberate steps to avert the looming danger of a youthful bulge.

The event also featured a Panel Discussion focusing on voices and choices of youth-led action for reproductive agency and hopeful futures.

As Nigeria commemorates World Population Day, the call to action resonates: Together, we can create an environment where young people can build the families they envision, fostering a future filled with dignity, health, and hope.