Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), Honourable Nasir Isa Kwarra has urged that the World Population Day 2025 is a call to action for government, civil society, development partners, and the private sector to recommit to creating a just and supportive environment in which young people are empowered with knowledge, supported by opportunity, and protected by rights.
He said on Thursday while briefing the media in Abuja that it is an important occasion as Nigeria joins the global community to commemorate the 2025 World Population Day, a day set aside to raise awareness about population dynamics and their far-reaching implications for human rights, sustainable development, and national progress.
This year’s theme, “Empowering Young People to Create the Families They Want in a Fair and Hopeful World,” which the NPC Chairman said could not be more timely or relevant. “Nigeria is at a pivotal moment in its demographic journey. With over 60 percent of our population under the age of 30, we stand on the brink of a transformative demographic transition, one that presents both immense opportunity and significant challenges,” Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra said as he welcome stakeholders to the meeting.
According to him, “Our youthful and vibrant population has the potential to be a powerful driver of national development. However, to harness this promise, we must address the structural barriers that limit young people’s ability to make informed and voluntary decisions about their lives, livelihoods, and reproductive choices.
Far too many of our young people face multiple constraints ranging from limited access to quality education and healthcare, to unemployment, gender-based discrimination, and social marginalization. These realities threaten to turn our potential demographic dividend into a demographic burden if left unaddressed.”
Hon Isa Kwarra pointed out that at the core of this effort is the power of data. “As the Agency constitutionally mandated to generate reliable demographic data for planning and policy, the National Population Commission has redoubled its efforts to provide the evidence base necessary for inclusive, youth-focused governance. Our strategic work is currently anchored on three critical pillars:
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- Revitalization of the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) System
A well-functioning Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system is the backbone of inclusive development. A birth certificate is not just a document it represents the first formal recognition of a citizen by the state. It serves as a gateway to essential rights and services, unlocking access to education, healthcare, employment opportunities, and social protection. Without it, individuals risk remaining invisible in the eyes of policymakers and being excluded from national development.
Working in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Interior, and our valued development partners, the Commission is advancing the digital transformation of birth and death registration systems nationwide. We are deploying digital registration points in healthcare facilities and community centers to ensure every Nigerian child is counted and protected from birth.
This real-time data system is already improving national planning for maternal and child health services, school enrolment, and social protection programmes.
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- Implementation of a Digital and Transformative Population and Housing Census
The forthcoming census will mark a historic milestone as Nigeria’s first fully digital population and housing census. This exercise will not only determine our population size, but also capture detailed, disaggregated data on age, gender, location, education, housing, and access to basic services.
Such data is indispensable for evidence-based planning particularly in youth-focused sectors like education, health, employment, and skills development. The Federal Government has shown strong commitment to this process by investing substantial resources and institutional backing, underscoring the importance of data-driven governance.
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- Development of the National Geospatial Data Repository
The Commission has also established a National Geospatial Data Repository, which integrates census and CRVS data with advanced geographic mapping tools. This platform enables us to visualize population trends, identify underserved communities, and track service delivery gaps across Nigeria.
With the strong backing of the Federal Government and the technical and financial support of key partners, this innovation enhances our capacity to implement targeted interventions, especially in areas with high youth populations and limited infrastructure. These collective efforts affirm our belief that empowering young people particularly in making informed reproductive choices is not just desirable, but indispensable to national development.
As part of this year’s observance, the National Population Commission, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), our longstanding and strategic partner in population and development and other stakeholders, has organized a series of impactful activities. These include youth consultations, stakeholder dialogues, media engagements, and community sensitization forums.
We sincerely commend the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for its steadfast support in promoting reproductive health, strengthening demographic data systems, and advancing youth empowerment in Nigeria. Their enduring partnership has been instrumental in enhancing our capacity to fulfill our mandate and in driving forward a shared vision of a future where no one is left behind.”
UNFPA Nigeria Deputy Representative, Mr. Koessan Kuawu in his statement, emphasizes the critical need for Government and its partners priotize the empowering of young people to make informed choices about their reproductive lives, rather than imposing barriers or misguided expectations. “This year’s focus highlights the global discussion around population trends, emphasizing that the real “fertility crisis” is a lack of reproductive agency and the inability of young people to create families they desire.
“Globally, a recent UNFPA State of World Population report revealed that 1 in 5 people under 50 expect to have a family size different from their ideal, with most anticipating fewer children than desired. This sentiment is often driven by financial stress, health concerns, and other societal pressures, rather than free choice or “selfishness.”
In Nigeria, these challenges are particularly pertinent for adolescents and young adults. The Nigeria Demography and Health Survey (NDHS), indicates a significant unmet need for family planning among young people. For those aged 15-19 years, the unmet need for family planning is 12.2%, rising to 16.1% for those aged 20-24 years. This translates to only 15.0% of demand for family planning being satisfied by modern methods for aged 15-19 years old, and 30.5% for aged 20-24 years old. While 22.2% of sexually active unmarried adolescents (aged 15-19 years) and 28.2% of young adults (aged 20-24 years) currently use modern methods, there is a clear gap in access and choice.”
According to him, “The narrative around population often misattributes fertility rates to free choice, ignoring the complex realities young Nigerians face”, he said.
He however pointed out that, financial insecurity, limited access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, and societal pressures often restrict their ability to make decisions about their bodies and futures. “We must create an environment where young people are supported, not blamed, for their fertility decisions.”
UNFPA Nigeria therefore calls for:
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- Investing in Youth: Providing secure jobs, sufficient income for housing, and other living costs to help young people achieve financial stability and broaden their choices regarding family planning.
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- Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Ensuring access to comprehensive sexuality education to support informed choices and empower young people with knowledge about their reproductive health and rights.
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- Intergenerational Understanding: Fostering dialogue and collaboration between generations to build trust, solidarity, and fairness in addressing demographic shifts.
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- Ensuring Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR): Making SRHR services accessible to all, especially young people, as a cornerstone for building sustainable and inclusive societies in Nigeria.
Starting this World Population Day, let us commit to listening to what young people in Nigeria want and need. Let’s create choices, not barriers, so they can thrive and build a hopeful future for themselves and generations to come, ensuring they have hope for a better tomorrow that is supportive of their choices and protective of their rights.
UNFPA stand always ready to support the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to strengthen national and sub-national health systems to delivery quality, comprehensive, right-based, accessible, and affordable family planning information and services to empower young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful country.