Nigeria's 238 million residents should be harnessed as a strength, rather than a liability, according to the National Population Commission

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The National Population Commission has urged governments at all levels to make deliberate investments in education, healthcare, skills development and employment for young people, warning that Nigeria’s growing youthful population could either become a demographic dividend or a missed opportunity.

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The NPC Chairman, Dr Aminu Yusuf, represented by the Federal Commissioner in Gombe State, Abubakar Danburam, made the call on Thursday during a press briefing in Gombe ahead of the commemoration of the 2026 World Population Day.

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He noted that Nigeria, with an estimated population of 238 million people, remains the most populous country in Africa and one of the youngest globally, with those aged between 15 and 29 accounting for about 30 per cent of the population.

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“The future of every nation is shaped not merely by the size of its population, but by the opportunities available to its people, especially its young population,” he said.

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Speaking on this year’s theme, “Realising the Hopes and Aspirations of Young People – Today and for the Future,” Danburam said Nigeria’s youthful population presents enormous opportunities if properly harnessed.

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He said, “Young people are not merely beneficiaries of development; they are innovators, leaders, entrepreneurs and active agents of change whose aspirations, talents and contributions will shape the future of our nation.”

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According to him, unlocking the potential of young Nigerians requires sustained investments in quality education, healthcare, skills development, decent jobs, gender equality and their participation in decision-making.

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Yusuf said recent demographic indicators showed progress in some areas but highlighted persistent challenges affecting young people.

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He disclosed that while Nigeria’s Total Fertility Rate had declined from 5.3 to 4.8 children per woman, adolescent fertility remained high at 15 per cent due to limited access to reproductive health services and other structural barriers.

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He also noted that youth unemployment and underemployment remained major concerns, with unemployment previously estimated at 33 per cent and underemployment above 20 per cent, largely driven by the mismatch between educational curricula and labour market needs.

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On education, the commissioner lamented that Nigeria still accounted for nearly 20 per cent of the global population of out-of-school children despite interventions by governments.

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He, however, highlighted some of the Federal Government’s youth-focused programmes under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, including the 3 Million Technical Talent programme, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, vocational training initiatives and expanded digital birth registration.

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According to him, about 30,000 youths have been certified under the first phase of the 3MTT programme, while over 150,000 trainees are currently enrolled in tuition-free vocational training across 1,600 accredited centres nationwide.

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Yusuf said the National Population Commission was also strengthening the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics system and the National Geospatial Data Repository to improve birth registration and demographic data across the country’s 774 local government areas.

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Despite the progress, he warned that infrastructure deficits, insecurity, rising cost of living and implementation gaps continued to hinder youth development.

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He reiterated the commission’s call for a technology-driven national Population and Housing Census, describing it as critical to effective planning and equitable allocation of resources.

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“We cannot plan for a population we do not accurately count. A credible, technology-driven Population and Housing Census remains the ultimate tool required to fully map, disaggregate and sustainably deploy resources for the over 60 per cent of Nigerians who look to the future with hope,” he said.

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Yusuf further urged states to embrace demographic dividend strategies, noting that only seven states and the Federal Capital Territory currently have roadmaps to drive demographic dividend programming.

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He called on the media to sustain evidence-based reporting on population issues, youth development and human capital investment.

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“As communicators and agenda setters, your role in advancing population and development issues cannot be overemphasised. Through accurate, balanced and sustained reporting, you help shape public understanding of issues that affect millions of Nigerians,” he said.

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He added that the commission, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund and other stakeholders, had lined up media engagements, youth-centred advocacy programmes, public awareness campaigns and stakeholder consultations to commemorate the 2026 World Population Day.

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“The message of this year’s World Population Day is clear: the hopes and aspirations of our youths deserve our attention, our investment and our collective commitment,” Yusuf stated.

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