The Federal Government has said strengthening family planning, maternal and child health, and human capital development is critical to achieving sustainable national development.
It added that Nigeria’s rapidly growing population must be transformed into a productive asset rather than a burden through sustained investments in health, education and social services.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, stated this on Thursday during the inauguration of the Inter-Ministerial Platform on Family Planning, Health, Human Capital and National Development in Abuja.
Pate noted that Nigeria’s estimated population of 230 million, projected to reach between 450 million and 500 million by 2050, presents significant opportunities if properly harnessed.
“Our people are the most important assets we have. If we fail to invest in them, that population can easily become a liability. Rather, we want a productive population that contributes to the economic development of our country,” he said.
He explained that the newly inaugurated platform would strengthen collaboration among key ministries to improve reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services, while advancing education, women’s empowerment, youth development and economic planning.
The minister also announced plans for Nigeria’s first local production of family planning commodities through a partnership with Bayer.
According to him, the initiative will reduce dependence on imports, create jobs and boost the country’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity.
“For the first time, there will be a pharmaceutical company able to produce family planning commodities in Nigeria. We can produce here, create jobs for our young people and generate economic value,” he said.
Pate urged state governments, local councils, development partners and the private sector to translate commitments into measurable action through adequate funding and effective implementation.
“This should not just be a platform for conversations, meetings and minutes, but one that delivers concrete, tangible actions and the resources needed to improve the health and well-being of all Nigerians,” he added.
Also speaking, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, described family planning as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s human capital.
“Family planning is not only a public health intervention but also an important investment in Nigeria’s human capital, economic resilience and social development,” Bagudu said.
“Strategic investments in health are investments in economic growth, poverty reduction and national development.”
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working with stakeholders to strengthen policy coordination and improve development outcomes.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, said her ministry remained committed to improving the well-being of women, children and families through policies that expand access to quality healthcare.
“This initiative reflects our collective commitment to advancing family planning, improving health outcomes and strengthening human capital,” she said.
She called for collaboration among stakeholders to deliver measurable results, noting that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of prioritising family and social development.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said investing in the health of young people is essential to Nigeria’s sustainable development.
“A young person with good health and well-being can learn better, think faster, become more productive and contribute effectively to national development,” he said.
He stressed that achieving better health outcomes requires inter-ministerial collaboration.
“No single ministry can deliver these outcomes alone. Together, we can improve Nigeria’s health system,” he added.
In his remarks, the Managing Director, North, West and Central Africa Hub of FP2030, Dr Alain Damiba, described family planning as a national development priority.
“Health, including family planning, is not the responsibility of the Ministry of Health alone; it is a national development priority,” he said.
“Human capital is not built by one ministry; it is built by an entire society working together.”
Damiba commended the Federal Government for establishing the inter-ministerial platform, noting that it would enhance collaboration, accountability and evidence-based decision-making.
“When Nigeria demonstrates high-level leadership on family planning and human capital, other countries in Africa and beyond will follow,” he added.