The National Population Commission (NPC) has launched the official report of its 13th Annual Population Lecture Series, urging Nigeria to strengthen domestic resource mobilization to sustain population and development programmes in the face of declining global funding.
Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Aminu Yusuf, made the call on Sunday during a press briefing at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, where he described the report as a key step toward strengthening population knowledge and ensuring that reliable demographic data guide national development planning.
Dr. Yusuf said the 13th Annual Population Lecture Series was themed “Emerging Global Funding Realities: Impact on Population Activities and the Need for Innovative Domestic Resource Mobilization.” According to him, the lecture examined how changing global financial priorities are affecting population and health-related programmes in Nigeria.
He explained that the report outlines several pressing challenges confronting population management in the country, including persistent disparities in fertility and mortality rates, declining donor funding, weak demographic data systems, poor coordination among institutions, and the slow transformation of Nigeria’s youthful population into economic productivity.
The NPC chairman stressed that while Nigeria values international partnerships, the country must begin to take greater responsibility for financing its population initiatives.
“Securing our future requires a shift towards greater domestic responsibility. The owner of the load must make the first attempt to carry it,” he said.
To address the challenges, the Commission proposed a strategic roadmap that focuses on innovative financing models, stronger collaboration with the private sector, renewed commitment to policy implementation, and youth empowerment programmes.
Dr. Yusuf revealed that the Commission aims to support at least 1,000 youth-led enterprises by the end of 2026 as part of efforts to harness the country’s demographic advantage.
He added that the Commission’s priorities align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which promotes institutional reform, data-driven governance, and sustainable financing for national development.
The NPC chairman also urged government agencies, development partners, civil society groups, academics, and the media to work together in implementing the report’s recommendations, noting that the media has a vital role in promoting public understanding of demographic issues.
Dr. Yusuf further disclosed that the Commission plans to deploy digital dashboards and conduct periodic performance reviews to track progress in population financing and ensure accountability.
Federal Commissioners, the Director-General, members of the Commission’s management team, and representatives of development partners attended the event.
