SPEECH: TEXT OF PRESS BRIEFING BY THE CHAIRMAN OF NATIONAL POPULATION COMMISSION, HON. NASIR ISA KWARRA, ON 2025 WORLD POPULATION DAY, HELD AT THE NPC HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA, TODAY, 17TH JULY 2025

[Protocols]

I warmly welcome you all to this 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,” 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.

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.

World Population Day 2025 is, therefore, 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.

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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

I wish to sincerely thank the members of the press for your vital role in taking this message to every corner of Nigeria. You are not just conveyors of information; you are custodians of national awareness, bridging the gap between data, policy, and the people. Your commitment to accurate reporting, public education, and media advocacy remains essential to building a population-literate society and ensuring that our youth are informed, empowered, and supported.

Conclusion

Empowering our youth is not a choice, it is an existential imperative. It demands collective resolve, evidence-based action, and a steadfast commitment to justice and opportunity and youth investments. Let us work together to create a Nigeria where every young person has the tools, the freedom, and the support to create the life and the family they desire.Let us make this year’s World Population Day a defining moment for a more inclusive, equitable, and data-informed future.

Thank you for your attention. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, FCISON, FPAN