The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr. Aminu Yusuf, has cautioned that Nigeria could miss out on the economic benefits of its youthful population unless governments and stakeholders make substantial investments in education, healthcare, skills development, job creation and youth empowerment.
Yusuf issued the warning on Wednesday during the national commemoration of the 2026 World Population Day in Abuja, noting that the country’s demographic advantage could turn into a liability if young people are not adequately equipped to contribute to national development.
Speaking on the theme, “Realizing the Hopes and Aspirations of Young People Today and for the Future,” he said Nigeria’s estimated population of over 238 million, with nearly 70 per cent under the age of 30, presents immense opportunities for economic growth if properly harnessed.
He stressed that a demographic dividend is achieved not simply through population size but through deliberate investments that ensure the country’s growing working-age population is healthy, educated, skilled, productive and economically active.
“The question before Nigeria is not whether we have a youthful population—we do. The real question is whether we are investing enough in our young people to transform this demographic reality into sustainable national prosperity,” Yusuf said.
He warned that without strategic investments, Nigeria’s youthful population could fuel rising unemployment, insecurity and social pressures instead of driving economic growth.
According to Yusuf, Nigeria’s roadmap for harnessing the demographic dividend places human capital development at its core, recognising that sustained investment in young people is critical to unlocking their potential.
He identified key priority areas as quality education, skills acquisition, healthcare, sexual and reproductive health services, decent employment opportunities, entrepreneurship, digital inclusion, innovation, climate resilience and increased youth participation in governance.
