Dr. Aminu Yusuf, Chairman of the National Population Commission, has cautioned that Nigeria might miss out on potential demographic benefits unless significant efforts are made to support its young population. Speaking during the World Population Day event in Abuja, he emphasized that the nation’s youth, who make up roughly 70 percent of the 238 million residents, require better access to education, healthcare, and job opportunities.
Yusuf noted that simply having a large number of young people does not guarantee economic success. Instead, the country must implement policies that ensure this workforce is healthy, skilled, and productive. Without these essential investments, the demographic profile could shift from an asset into a driver of unemployment and social instability.
The NPC highlighted critical data from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, which revealed worrying trends such as a high adolescent birth rate and limited access to reproductive health services. Dr. Yusuf urged both public and private sector stakeholders to shift from dialogue to action. He stressed that young people should be included as active partners in governance rather than just recipients of aid to ensure the country achieves long-term development.
