World Population Day: Commission Seeks  Increased Investments In Youths

The National Population Commission (NPC) has called for increased investment in Nigerian youths, saying the country’s future depends on creating opportunities that enable young people to thrive.

Speaking at a press briefing in Ibadan yesterday to commemorate the 2026 World Population Day, the Federal Commissioner of the NPC in Oyo State, Dr. Eyitayo Oyetunji, said this year’s theme, “Realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people- today and for the future,” places the spotlight on empowering Nigeria’s youthful population through education, skills development, employment and improved access to services.

While unveiling a new digital birth and death registration system aimed at strengthening legal identity and national planning, he sai Nigeria, with an estimated population of 238 million people, has one of the world’s youngest populations, with people aged 15 to 29 accounting for about 30 per cent of the country’s population.

Oyetunji noted that the country’s demographic strength could only translate into economic growth if young people are healthy, educated, skilled and productively engaged.

He said while government initiatives such as the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), youth appointments into government and expanded vocational training have recorded progress, challenges including unemployment, insecurity, rising cost of living and inadequate infrastructure continue to limit the potential of many young Nigerians.

The NPC Commissioner disclosed that about 30,000 youths have already been certified under the first phase of the 3MTT programme, while over 150,000 trainees are currently enrolled in tuition-free vocational training centres across the country.

He also stressed the need for the speedy review of the National Youth Policy and renewed his call for a technology-driven national population and housing census, describing it as essential for effective planning and equitable distribution of resources.

Oyetunji added that the commission, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other stakeholders, has lined up youth-focused advocacy programmes, media engagements, public awareness campaigns and stakeholder consultations to amplify the voices of young people during the World Population Day commemoration.

Meanwhile, the NPC has announced the commencement of the nationwide Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (E-CRVS) system through the VitalReg platform, which became operational across Nigeria on July 1, 2026.

The commissioner described the initiative as one of the most significant reforms in Nigeria’s civil registration system, saying it will ensure that every birth and death is digitally recorded in a secure and efficient manner.

He explained that the platform offers faster registration services, digital certificate issuance, 24-hour online access, improved data accuracy through automated validation, reduced paperwork and a more reliable national database.

According to him, Nigeria records about five million births annually, yet birth registration coverage remains at about 57 per cent, while death registration is below 20 per cent, leaving millions without legal identity and limiting reliable data for national development.

In Oyo State, he said the commission currently operates 156 registration centres across the state’s 33 local government areas as part of efforts to improve access to registration services.

Oyetunji appealed to parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, healthcare providers and other stakeholders to ensure prompt registration of births and deaths, stressing that accurate demographic data remains critical for evidence-based governance, national planning and sustainable development.

He also appreciated the Oyo State Government, development partners, particularly UNICEF, local government councils, civil society organisations and the media for supporting the commission’s drive to strengthen Nigeria’s civil registration system.