Protocols,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the headquarters of the National Population Commission for this important press briefing.

Today’s gathering provides an opportunity to formally launch the Report of the 13th Annual Population Lecture Series (APLS 13) and to brief the press on its key insights, outcomes, and policy implications.

This event, which forms part of my 100 days in office, underscores our collective commitment to strengthening population governance and ensuring that demographic knowledge continues to inform national development planning in a systematic and sustainable manner.

At the Commission, our focus remains clear: to strengthen institutional capacity and reposition population data as a central pillar of national development. One of the notable milestones in this regard is the production and dissemination of the first-ever official report of the Annual Population Lecture Series since its introduction fourteen years ago. This achievement reflects our resolve to deepen knowledge generation, institutionalize documentation, and translate policy discussions into actionable outcomes.

This effort aligns with our Seven-Point Agenda and resonates strongly with Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes institutional strengthening, improved data systems, and evidence-based policymaking as essential drivers of national development.

Our guiding philosophy remains simple but profound: our responsibility goes beyond counting people; it is about ensuring that every Nigerian counts. This entails strengthening demographic data systems, promoting research and ensuring that population data serves as a reliable foundation for governance and development planning.

The report we are launching today is the outcome of the 13th Annual Population Lecture Series (APLS) with the theme:

“Emerging Global Funding Realities: Impact on Population Activities and the Need for Innovative Domestic Resource Mobilization.”

The theme is both timely and strategic. Many developing countries, including Nigeria, are currently experiencing significant shifts in global financing for population and health-related programmes.

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of these emerging realities. It contains policy briefs, strategic recommendations, and detailed reflections on the implications of changing funding patterns for population activities in Nigeria. It also documents the proceedings of the lecture and includes the full keynote address delivered by the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, who represented the Honourable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.

The report highlights several critical issues:

Fertility and mortality dynamics: While fertility rates have declined gradually, Nigeria’s Total Fertility Rate remains approximately 4.8 children per woman, with marked regional disparities influenced by education and access to family planning services. Sustained investment in population programmes therefore remains essential.

Funding constraints: Development partner contributions, which currently is about 11.6 percent of national health expenditure are becoming increasingly uncertain due to shifting global priorities.

Demographic dividend gaps: There are still significant challenges in translating Nigeria’s youthful population into economic advantage, particularly due to gaps in education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.

Weak data systems: Persistent limitations in census implementation and incomplete coverage of the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system due to funding gaps continue to affect data reliability.

Institutional coordination challenges: There is a need to strengthen and fully operationalize structures responsible for population management and policy coordination at the national and subnational levels.

Our Roadmap: Strengthening Domestic Resource Mobilization

In light of these realities, the central message of this report is clear: securing our future requires a shift towards greater domestic responsibility. As the saying goes, “the owner of the load must make the first attempt to carry it”. While international partnerships remain important, sustainable population management must be anchored on strong and reliable domestic financing frameworks. Nigeria must, therefore, prioritize and strengthen domestic resource mobilization for population programmes.

To this end, the report proposes a forward-looking roadmap built around key strategic priorities:

Innovative financing: Including blended financing models such as population bonds, effective utilization of diaspora remittances, and expansion of health insurance coverage to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure.

Private sector engagement: Positioning the private sector as a strategic partner in financing and implementing population programmes beyond traditional corporate social responsibility.

Policy implementation: Strengthening Technical Working Groups across all states to ensure effective operationalization of national population policy frameworks.

Youth empowerment: Supporting at least 1,000 youth-led social enterprises by the third quarter of 2026, particularly in areas related to health, data innovation, and community development.

These priorities align directly with the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its emphasis on economic inclusion, youth empowerment, institutional reform, and sustainable development financing.

A Call to Action

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the successful implementation of these recommendations requires collective action.

I call upon government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector to actively utilize the insights contained in this report to strengthen population-related programmes nationwide.

To the media, your role remains indispensable in shaping national understanding and driving informed engagement on critical development issues. As the vital link between policy institutions and the public, you carry the responsibility of translating complex demographic insights into accessible knowledge that can influence attitudes, decisions, and outcomes. In the context of this report, your platforms are not merely channels of communication, but instruments for deepening public awareness on the implications of population dynamics for health, economic growth, and national planning.

We therefore urge you to go beyond reportage and actively interrogate, amplify, and sustain conversations around the key messages and recommendations contained in this report. By fostering evidence-based discourse, holding institutions accountable, and elevating population issues within the national agenda, you contribute directly to the realization of a more informed, responsive, and development-oriented society.

Against this backdrop, the report we launch today goes beyond documentation; it provides a practical framework for strengthening the financing and sustainability of population programmes in Nigeria. Its impact, however, will depend on sustained collaboration, active stakeholder engagement, and a shared commitment to evidence-based action. With this collective resolve, population data will increasingly serve as a strategic instrument for national development, in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Conclusion

In closing, I wish to assure our partners and the Nigerian public of the Commission’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and measurable results. In line with this commitment, we will continue to deploy innovative tools, including digital dashboards for tracking population financing, complemented by regular performance reviews to ensure the efficient and effective utilization of scarce resources.

Thank you for your attention.

God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Dr. Aminu Yusuf
Chairman, National Population Commission