World Population Day: Stakeholders Urge Greater Investment In Youth Reproductive Health

As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark World Population Day 2025, key public health stakeholders have called on government leaders, civil society, and development partners to prioritize young people in reproductive health policies, access, and education.

With this year’s theme, “Empowering Young People to Create the Families They Want in a Fair and Hopeful World,” advocates emphasized the urgent need to dismantle barriers that prevent adolescents and young adults from making informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health.

At the forefront of this advocacy is The Challenge Initiative (TCI), which has been working with states and local governments to expand youth-friendly family planning programs. Speaking on Friday, Dr. Taiwo Johnson, TCI Nigeria Hub’s Country Director, said empowering young people with accurate information and access to services is both a health and human rights issue.

“When young people are supported to make informed decisions, they become agents of change in their communities,” Johnson said.

“Despite the progress made since the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) 30 years ago—including improvements in reproductive healthcare and maternal health—millions of young Nigerians still face challenges such as misinformation, stigma, and poor access to youth-targeted services.

TCI’s youth-focused initiative, Life Planning for Adolescents and Youth (LPAY), has been scaled up in several Nigerian states to provide sexuality education, mobilize communities, and train health workers to deliver confidential and respectful services. Social and digital platforms are also being used to counter myths around contraceptive use and promote positive narratives”.

Abiodun Ajayi, LPAY Champion and Executive Director of the Public Health Sustainable Advocacy Initiative (PHSAI), reinforced the need for sustained action:

“This World Population Day is a reminder that young people’s needs must not be sidelined. We need investment in education, in health systems, and in policies that give us the tools to thrive.”

While speaking, Suliyat Eletu, Communications Program Officer of Development Communications Network (DevComs), a long-time partner of TCI, emphasized the importance of giving young people a seat at the table:

“Young people must be at the centre of development. Their choices matter. Their dreams matter. And with the right support, they will lead the way toward healthier families and thriving communities.”