By Suleiman Adamu, Sokoto
SULTAN of Sokoto and President General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs , Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has urged governments at all levels to invest adequately in productive and not violent population of the country.
He said government , development partners and wealthy individuals were pillars in driving the course for productive population growth and development.
” This will translate to stimulating policy frame work that will encourage structured provision of adequate socio economic , health and educational facilities that will impact and accelerate productive youths population”, he pointed out
Abubakar made the call on Tuesday at the 14th International Conference of the Population Association of Nigeria (PAN) 2026 heralded for 9th -12th February , 2026 hosted by the Usmanu Danfodiyo University , Sokoto.
However, the theme of the conference is ” Population Dynamics in the 21st Century:Opportunities, Challenges and Policies for Sustainable Development”
The religious monarch also stressed the urgent need to brace the drive for family planning initiative in order to build a beneficial future for children who inturn will become youths and leaders of tomorrow.
” It is sad that today , we are giving birth to children we cannot take good care of. This is alarming and will make them have bleak future”, he pointed out noting that Islam does not prohibit given birth to children but also allows one to manage a sizeable number that he can provide for their basic health and educational needs.
Abubakar represented by the District Head and Sarkin Yakin of Gagi, Alhaji Dani Umar Jabi hitherto said all hands must be on deck with resilience towards tackling the challenges of insecurity.
” We have to collectively work and ensure we bridge the gap as gate keepers in building hope for the future of our children and particularly the youths , provide their basic needs so they don’t become agents of destruction in our societies”, he tasked.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto while declaring the conference open, said population has critical role in shaping the Nigerian nation , stressing the need for collective action to drive and shape the quality of life of Nigerians especially the youths whom he described as important assets that must be made to be productive.
” Youth population is an important and effective asset if prophet harnessed”, he added.
According to the Governor represented by the state Commission for Information and Orientation, Sambo Bello Danchadi he described the conference as a significant step and opportunity to fashion out ways for national growth and development in a democratic setting for good governance and sustained delivery of the dividends of democracy.
” Our population drives the reality of our demands as essential pillar that defines and drives informed policy decision and planning for development”, he pointed out.
Earlier in his address, the National Population Commission Chairman, Dr Aminu Yusuf (Talban Wushishi) noted that Nigeria’s development was unfolding within the context of sustained and significant demographic change occasioned by the strength of rapid population growth, youthful age structure accelerating urbanisation, and complex patterns of inter at and international migration thus; reshaping both the scale and geography of need.
The Chairman explained that population dynamics was beyond academic analysis but constitute central force in shaping the country’s development trajectory in the twenty first Century.
These dynamics, Dr Yusuf stressed have always been a key driver and silent determinant of policy effectiveness which remain unnoticed until pressures became visible.
” It is recognised within the national planning frameworks , including the revised National policy on population for sustainable development in 2022.
” It is central and reflects that demographic trends influence development prospects across sectors and over time”, he pointed out.
Yusuf said the dynamics have consistently shaped demand, influence resource allocation and set the parameters for effective intervention based on demographic realities for policy formulation and planning, process, development efforts gain coherence , foresight and resilience .
He noted that Nigeria was having an articulated population policy framework which recognises the central role of demographic change in shaping outcomes.
In his address, Chief Host and Vice Chancellor of UDUS, Professor Bashir Garba said Nigeria’s population as the most populous in Africa and sixth in the world presents opportunities for sou d and beneficial economic growth and development though, with significant challenges.
” The county does not only lead in mere numbers but boast of remarkable youthful population”, he said disclosing that UDUS ranked second to establish a department of Demography and Social Statistics after the Federal University , Birnin Kebbi in the North and the 4th after Ile-Ife and Oye- Ekiti federal universities in Nigeria.
He tasked stakeholders at the conference to be reflective , catalytic and come up with evidence- driven approach to solving population issues in Nigeria.
” In a world where challenges are both dynamic and complex , our collective wisdom and commitment to scientific integrity can seve as beacons of hope for a more Prosperous and suitable future”, he remarked.
Also in his welcome address, President, Population Association of Nigeria, Prof. Enang Ebingh described the conference as one of the innovative initiative for exploring professional ideas and input for advancing informed government policies on population and government investments in education, health security and other numerous social and economic palliatives programmes for citizens.
He explained that , the association remain determined to identify and work with more committed partners towards satisfying the fire needs of human number, population.
” Our focus is to support main professionals to populate research space with demographic data drawn majorly from Nigeria’s experiences do that the era of 1980s where Nigeria columns on Demographic Yearbooks and other i yet national datasheets and publications were reported ” Not Available” won be repeated “, he stated assuring that the conference and research would depart from crude, fragmented , unreliable and unverifiable sources of data.
” We must no longer be described as primitive or uncivilised as we can rival any nation in terms of our demographic discourses that can drive our development with impact on our population”, he said.
