The Federal Government has said it will begin production of family planning materials locally to strengthen whole-of-government coordination and harness Nigeria’s youthful population as a driver of sustainable national development.
A statement signed by the Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations, to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Ado Bako, on Friday, noted that the government has also inaugurated an inter-ministerial platform to drive the initiative.
Prof. Pate described the development as an important milestone for Nigeria and the wider sub-Saharan African region, reiterating that local production would reduce dependence on imported commodities, create employment opportunities for young Nigerians and generate economic value within the country.
While inaugurating the platform in Abuja, Pate said Nigeria’s population remains the country’s greatest asset and must be deliberately transformed into a productive resource capable of driving economic growth and national prosperity.
The Coordinating Minister said the Platform was established within the overarching vision of President Bola Tinubu for a prosperous, peaceful and people-centred Nigeria, stressing that the country’s rapidly growing population could become either a major asset or a liability depending on the investments made in its health, education, empowerment and productivity.
He said Nigeria, with an estimated population of about 230 million people and a predominantly youthful demographic, adds millions of people to its population annually and is projected to reach between 450 and 500 million by 2050; therefore, he stressed the need for deliberate investments in human capital to ensure that the growing population is healthy, educated, skilled and economically productive.
Pate explained that the Inter-Ministerial Platform would adopt a life-course approach, bringing together relevant government institutions to address the needs of Nigerians from adolescence through adulthood, parenthood and old age, noting that each participating institution has a clearly defined role in achieving the objectives of the Platform.
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare would focus on strengthening health systems, improving access to essential services, promoting equity and advancing health and social welfare outcomes, while the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning would drive national development planning, human capital investment and efficient resource allocation.
He added that the Federal Ministry of Finance had a critical role in creating the fiscal environment required to translate investments in health and other social sectors into productivity and economic growth, and highlighted the roles of the Ministries of Women Affairs, Education and Youth Development, noting that reproductive health, girls’ education, youth empowerment and access to health information were interconnected components of human capital development.
He also identified the National Population Commission (NPC) as a key partner in population planning, fertility trends, demographic projections and efforts to harness Nigeria’s demographic dividend.
On primary healthcare, the Coordinating Minister stressed the importance of ensuring availability of essential maternal, newborn and child health services, noting that reducing child mortality was closely linked to fertility decisions and the ability of families to plan their desired family size.
He called for a stronger role for the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in promoting public awareness, community trust, citizen engagement and addressing misinformation that could undermine health and development interventions.
The Coordinating Minister emphasised that achieving the objectives of the Platform would require a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, involving federal, state and local governments, civil society organisations, the private sector and development partners.
He stressed that the Platform must move beyond meetings and discussions to deliver concrete and measurable actions, including improved financing and implementation at subnational levels.
Prof. Pate noted that the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative already provides a framework for collaboration with the 36 states, local governments and development partners, adding that the new Platform would strengthen coordination around family planning and broader human capital priorities.
He welcomed recent improvements reflected in Nigeria’s Mini-Demographic and Health Survey, but cautioned that the progress represented only the beginning of the work required, calling for sustained commitment to the release of appropriated funds.
Pate urged states to complement federal efforts with increased investments in health, family planning and human capital development, expressing confidence that coordinated action across government would accelerate progress towards a healthier, more productive and prosperous Nigeria.
Channels TV
