Pate Says Nigeria’s Great Asset is Its Population.
Abuja, August 7, 2026 — The Federal Government has inaugurated a High-Level Inter-Ministerial Platform on Family Planning, Health, Human Capital and National Development, aimed at strengthening whole-of-government coordination and harnessing Nigeria’s youthful population as a driver of sustainable national development.
Inaugurating the Platform in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali 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 Ahmed 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.
He 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.
He said 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.
Prof. Pate also announced progress towards domestic production of family planning commodities, describing 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.
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 stressing 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 and 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.
Also speaking at the inauguration, the Managing Director, FP2030 West and Central Africa Office, Dr Alain Damiba, commended the Federal Government for establishing the platform, describing it as a significant step towards placing collaboration, accountability and evidence-based decision-making at the centre of Nigeria’s human capital agenda.
Dr Damiba emphasized that family planning and health are not solely the responsibility of the health sector, but are critical components of national development requiring coordinated action across government.
He noted that when women and young people are empowered to make informed and voluntary decisions about their reproductive health, the benefits extend beyond improved health outcomes to education, economic productivity and the overall wellbeing of families and communities.
“Health, including family planning, is a smart investment in human capital and Nigeria’s future,” he said.
Dr Damiba said FP2030 views the new platform as more than a coordination mechanism, but as an opportunity for Ministries to establish shared outcomes, strengthen accountability, track progress and collectively address challenges affecting Nigeria’s human capital development.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom S. mni noted that improving the health and well-being of Nigerians requires coordinated action across sectors including population, education, finance, women affairs, economic planning and social protection, stating that achieving better health outcomes, also requires coordinated policies, aligned investments, effective partnerships and shared accountability among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Represented by the Director Family Health of the Ministry, Dr. Ahmad Muhammad Ozi, Kachollom said the platform provides an opportunity to deepen understanding of the linkages between family planning, health-system strengthening, maternal and newborn health, human capital development and sustainable national development. She urged members of the platform to focus on practical and measurable actions that would strengthen collaboration and partnerships among relevant MDAs.
“Let us use this platform to move beyond discussions to concrete, coordinated and measurable actions. Let us leave this meeting with a renewed commitment to collaboration, shared responsibility and collective action towards achieving our national development aspirations,” she said.
Stakeholders from the Ministries of Youth Development, Women Affairs and Social Development, Finance, and Budget and Economic Planning, as well as the National Population Commission, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and civil society organisations, have pledged their support for the newly inaugurated Nigeria FP2030 High-Level Inter-Ministerial Platform on Family Planning, Health, Human Capital and National Development.
They unanimously stressed that family planning is central to improving maternal and child health, empowering women and young people, strengthening household resilience, developing human capital and accelerating Nigeria’s socio-economic development, and pledged their continued collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and FP2030 to ensure that the platform translates its commitments into measurable results for Nigerians.
Signed:
Ado Bako
Assistant Director Director, Information and Public Relations.
