By Mohammed Dala Lawan
As the world commemorates World Population Day 2025, Nigeria has joined the global community to emphasize the importance of prioritizing young people’s needs and voices.
The National Population Commission, in collaboration with global partners, has launched a campaign to empower young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world.
According to the statement signed by the Director Programme, Akin Jimoh, the Country Director of The Challenge Initiative (TCI) Nigeria Hub, Dr. Taiwo Johnson, says “Empowering young people with knowledge and access to services is not just a health issue—it’s a rights issue.”
TCI, funded by the Gates Foundation and Bayer, has been working to accelerate the scale-up of approaches and provide guidance to self-selected states, local government areas (LGAs), and partners willing to invest in family planning.
The campaign has also highlighted the importance of community-led programs, youth networks, and health system reforms in bridging the gap between knowledge and access.
DevComs, a media-development, not-for-profit organization, has joined TCI and other partners to call on policymakers, civil society, donors, and the media to step up efforts and investment in youth health and wellbeing.
The Communications Programme Officer of the DevComs, Suliyat Eletu, says “Young people must be at the centre of development,” “Their choices matter. Their dreams matter. And with the right support, they will lead the way toward healthier families and thriving communities.”
The World Population Day campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of empowering young people to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and well-being.
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