LASG, UNFPA REITERATE CALL FOR GREATER INVESTMENT IN YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

Lagos State government, UNFPA have reiterated calls for greater investment in youth empowerment as it marks the 2025 World Population Day (WPD) on Wednesday. 

l-r: State Director, National Population Commission (NPC) in Lagos, Mr. Bamidele Sadiku; Programme Coordinator/Head of Lagos Office, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Abigail Msemburi; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget represented by Director of Development Partners Dept., Mr. Mobolaji Onimole; former UNFPA Head in Lagos, Dr. Omosehin Omolaso; Director, Lagos Bureau of Statistics (LBS), Mr. Tayo Oseni-Ope and others during the y2025 World Population Day event tagged “Empowering Young People to Create the Families They Want in a Fair and Hopeful World” organised by LBS, held at the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), CBD in Ikeja.

WPD is marked annually on July 11th and the Lagos State government through the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget held a commemorative event to celebrate the day, with this year’s global theme: “Empowering Young People to Create the Families They Want in a Fair and Hopeful World” at the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), CBD in Ikeja.

The theme highlights the urgent need to support young people in achieving their reproductive goals and economic aspirations.

Delivering the keynote address, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Olayinka Ojo, underscored the critical role of young people in national development.

“Youths bring new ideas, energy, and creativity, contributing to innovation and job creation,” she said, adding that a large youth population presents the potential for a demographic dividend that can drive sustainable economic growth.

She emphasized the importance of youth empowerment, reproductive health, and informed choices, pointing out that young people are essential to achieving gender equality, global cooperation, and social change.

The Permanent Secretary, represented by the Director of Development Partners Department under the Ministry, Mr. Mobolaji Onimole said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu deserved applauds for his foresights to have upgraded the administration’s development agenda to T.H.E.M.E.S+ (an addition of youth, social inclusion and gender equality), which harmonises with this year’s WPD theme.

Speaking on behalf of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Abigail Msemburi, Head of the Lagos Office and Programme Coordinator, raised concern over declining global fertility rates and the rising barriers preventing young people from forming the families they desire.

“The real fertility crisis is not that people are choosing careers over families,” she explained. “It's that many, especially those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are unable to create the families they want due to economic hardship, health concerns, and societal pressures.”

She called for greater investment in comprehensive sexuality education, youth employment, affordable childcare, and family-friendly policies that promote balance between work and personal life.

She commended the Lagos State Government for its proactive youth policies, noting that the state's youthful population making up nearly half of its total population represents both a challenge and an opportunity.

“Let’s listen to what young people want and need,” Msemburi urged. “Their reproductive agency and aspirations should be supported. Only then can we truly achieve a fair and hopeful world.”

In his presentation, former UNFPA Head in Lagos, Dr. Omosehin Omolaso, further broadened the discussion giving insights to tackling barriers in creating family life, spotlighting how social norms, financial burdens, and fear of divorce are contributing to declining interest in traditional marriage and family life.

He noted that younger generations are redefining relationships, often prioritizing personal freedom, education, and economic stability.

“Nearly 1 in 5 young adults say global issues like climate change and wars affect their willingness to have children. And 39% report financial limitations as a major obstacle,” he shared, citing recent data from the UN and U.S. Census Bureau.

The presentation also emphasized the importance of inclusive policies: access to affordable housing, healthcare, reproductive services, and mentorship programs were highlighted as crucial to helping young people envision and build families in their own way.

UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, quoted in the presentation, urged global leaders to stand with young people; invest in systems that protect their rights, as well as build a future where every person can shape their destiny in a world that is fair, peaceful, and full of hope.

The State Director of the National Population Commission (NPC) in Lagos, Mr. Bamidele Sadiku, urged youths to go beyond academic qualifications by acquiring relevant skills that will enhance their employability and readiness for job opportunities or productive engagement.

All stakeholders and partners including UNFPA, the State Ministry of Youth and Social Development; National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Lagos chapter, Lagos Civil Society Participation for Development (LACSOP) joined the call for increased focus on reproductive rights, access to quality education, skill development, healthcare, and employment opportunities for Nigeria’s youth, emphasizing that empowering them is key to sustainable national progress.