The Chairman of National Population Commission, (NPC), Dr. Aminu Yusuf, on Tuesday, declared that Nigeria’s development trajectory in the 21st century is inseparable from its rapidly evolving demographic realities, stressing that population dynamics now sit at the very heart of effective national planning and policy delivery.
This is just as Sokoto state governor, Ahmed Aliyu, harpped on the importance of youthful population.
Declaring the conference open, Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, described population as a defining factor in shaping Nigeria’s growth, stressing that the youth population, if properly harnessed, remains the country’s greatest asset.
Dr. Yusuf made this assertion in Sokoto while delivering his address at the 14th International Conference of the Population Association of Nigeria (PAN) 2026, hosted by Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS).
According to him, Nigeria’s development is unfolding against the backdrop of sustained population growth, a predominantly youthful age structure, accelerating urbanisation and increasingly complex internal and international migration patterns.
He explained that these factors are steadily reshaping both the scale and geography of national needs, placing unprecedented pressure on infrastructure, social services and governance systems across the country.
The NPC chairman emphasised that population dynamics should no longer be viewed merely as an academic subject but as a powerful and central force shaping Nigeria’s development outcomes, often acting as a silent determinant of policy success or failure.
“Demographic pressures often remain unnoticed until they become visible through rising unemployment, insecurity, urban congestion and strain on social services,” Dr. Yusuf noted.
He said this reality informed the inclusion of population dynamics as a core pillar within Nigeria’s national planning frameworks, including the revised National Policy on Population for Sustainable Development adopted in 2022.
According to him, the policy reflects the growing recognition that demographic trends directly influence development prospects across all sectors and over time, determining demand, resource allocation and the effectiveness of public interventions.
Dr. Yusuf stressed that when policies and development programmes are aligned with demographic realities, planning gains coherence, foresight and resilience, leading to more sustainable outcomes.
He further noted that Nigeria now possesses an articulated population policy framework that clearly recognises the central role of demographic change in shaping social and economic outcomes.
The NPC boss called on researchers, policymakers and development partners to prioritise evidence-based data and demographic intelligence in decision-making processes, warning that poor or fragmented data could undermine national development efforts.
Earlier, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, urged governments and stakeholders to invest adequately in building a productive population through improved access to education, healthcare and socio-economic opportunities.
The Sultan, represented by the District Head and Sarkin Yakin Gagi, Alhaji Dani Umar Jabi, also underscored the importance of family planning and youth empowerment in addressing insecurity and safeguarding the nation’s future.
In his remarks, Vice-Chancellor of UDUS, Professor Bashir Garba, said Nigeria’s status as Africa’s most populous nation presents enormous opportunities for economic expansion, but warned that these opportunities could turn into liabilities without strategic population management.
The President of the Population Association of Nigeria, Professor Enang Ebingh, described the conference as a critical platform for generating professional insights to support informed government policies and sustainable investments in education, health, security and social welfare.
The four day conference, themed “Population Dynamics in the 21st Century:
Opportunities, Challenges and Policies for Sustainable Development,” brought together demographers, academics and policymakers to chart a data driven pathway for Nigeria’s population and development future.
