The Kwara State Government says it is prioritising youth development through targeted investments, a commitment highlighted during the 2026 World Population Day press briefing in Ilorin.
Kwara is located in North-Central Nigeria
The Kwara State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to prioritising youth development through strategic investments in education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, skills acquisition and evidence-based planning aimed at unlocking the full potential of the state’s youthful population and driving sustainable development.
The Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Mary Arinde, stated this during a press briefing to commemorate the 2026 World Population Day, held in Ilorin.
Speaking on this year’s theme, “Realizing the Hopes and Aspirations of Young People – Today and for the Future,” Dr. Arinde described young people as the greatest asset of the state, stressing that with over 60 per cent of Kwara’s estimated four million population comprising youths and adolescents, deliberate investments in human capital development remain critical to sustainable growth.
The Commissioner disclosed that the Ministry, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has commenced the development of the Kwara State Demographic Dividend Roadmap and developed the Kwara State Youth Policy, adding that these initiatives will provide strategic direction for policies and programmes that will unlock the State’s demographic potential.
She highlighted several youth-focused initiatives of the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led administration, including the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP), Kwapreneur, Public Workfare Programme, the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Initiative and programmes aimed at promoting youth and women’s participation in governance.
Arinde commended UNFPA, the National Population Commission (NPC), development partners, civil society organisations, traditional and religious institutions for their continued support in promoting sustainable population management and human capital development, and called for stronger collaboration in improving demographic data systems, while describing reliable population data as essential for effective planning and quality service delivery
In his remarks, the Federal Commissioner of the National Population Commission, Isiaka Alada Yahaya, emphasised that investing in young people remains the surest pathway to economic growth, innovation and sustainable development.
Yahaya noted that the 2026 World Population Day activities would feature youth-centred advocacy, media engagements, public awareness campaigns and stakeholder collaborations aimed at amplifying the voices of young people and deepening public understanding of population issues.
The event also featured presentations on the findings of the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) Global Demographic Futures Survey, which revealed that while many young people aspire to marry and have children, economic uncertainty, limited opportunities and prevailing social challenges continue to hinder the achievement of their life aspirations.
