United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has called for sustained investment in the health, education, skills, decent work and meaningful participation of Nigerian youths in national development.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja at an event to commemorate the 2026 World Population Day, the Executive Director of UNFPA, Ms Diene Keita, described Nigeria as a youthful country, with young people aged 10 to 24 accounting for 31.7 per cent of the population.

Represented by the Nigeria Resident Representative, Ms Muriel Mafico, she warned that as the world was confronted with profound demographic change, realising the demographic dividends of the youths requires intentional investment in them.

Keita also expressed concern over the rapidly rising number of older adults in the country, stressing that although the figure might be drowned out by the country’s huge population, such a small percentage translates to millions of older individuals, creating a massive demographic shift in absolute numbers.

While the aged population soars, UNFPA feared that economic factors are, on the other hand, drastically constraining the younger generation from procreating.

“Some people assume that younger generations have given up on marriage and children altogether. Our survey tells a different story. Most respondents say their ideal relationship involves marriage. Yet among those who want a partner, many are single and not dating.”

Economic and housing constraints were the most commonly cited barriers to partnership. Most of those surveyed also want children, and across most regions, a family of two is the most common ideal family size. But many questioned whether they will have the stability and security to house and care for them.

The ED said that in Nigeria, implementation of policies and programmes must be grounded in the country’s demographic realities and in the voices and lived experiences of its diverse young population.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman, National Population Commission, Dr Aminu Yusuf, said the voices of the young ones must inform policies and their experiences must inform programme design. According to him, their ideas must inform innovation while their participation be reflected in the decisions that shape their present and their future.

“The national commemoration of World Population Day provides us with an important platform to strengthen this dialogue. Through the participation of government, development partners, civil society, academia, the media, the private sector and young people, we can move from discussion to action.”

“Our challenge is to ensure that the optimism of Nigeria’s young people is matched by real opportunity. We must ensure that their aspirations are not met with barriers that could have been removed through better policies, stronger institutions, and more deliberate investment. We must ensure that every young person everywhere has a fair opportunity to develop his or her potential,” the chairman said.