The National Population Commission (NPC) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have warned that Nigeria could miss the benefits of its youthful population unless governments at all levels invest in education, healthcare, skills development, employment and credible population data systems.
Speaking in Abuja ahead of the 2026 World Population Day on July 11, NPC Chairman, Hon. Aminu Yusuf, said Nigeria’s estimated population has reached 242 million, with nearly 30 per cent aged between 15 and 29 years.
He said the country’s growing youth population would only become an economic asset if backed by sound policies and sustained investments, noting that this year’s theme, “Realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people — today and for the future,” is particularly relevant to Nigeria.
Yusuf disclosed that youth unemployment remains around 33 per cent, while underemployment exceeds 20 per cent, with about 80 per cent of employed young Nigerians engaged in informal and precarious jobs. He also said Nigeria still accounts for nearly 20 per cent of the global population of out-of-school children.
The NPC chairman noted that although Nigeria’s Total Fertility Rate has declined from 5.3 to 4.8 children per woman, adolescent fertility remains high at 15 per cent due to inadequate access to youth-friendly health services and limited reproductive health options.
He highlighted initiatives under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, including the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, which has trained and certified 30,000 youths across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), and tuition-free vocational training and start-up support for more than 150,000 trainees in 1,600 accredited centres nationwide.
Yusuf said the Commission is also strengthening digital birth registration through its Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system and National Geospatial Data Repository to capture unregistered births across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
Despite the interventions, he said infrastructure deficits, insecurity, rising living costs and implementation gaps continue to hinder youth development and stressed the importance of credible population data.
“We cannot plan for a population we do not accurately count,” he said.
He also lamented the slow implementation of demographic dividend programmes, noting that only seven states and the Federal Capital Territory currently have roadmaps for the initiative, and called for renewed commitment to policies that can unlock Nigeria’s demographic potential.
