Peter Obi, 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), said, it is unfortunate that, despite making up “70%” of Nigeria’s population, the young Nigerians are yet to receive the “right investments” which will bring about “a productive population contributing to national development”.
The former Governor of Anambra State made the statement on World Population Day 2025 on Friday 11 July, 2025.
Obi described Nigeria’s enormous population as a “blessing” as the country stands at an advantage “with its highly youthful and energetic population”.
According to un.org:
World Population Day, which seeks to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues, was established by the then-Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989
By resolution 45/216 of December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly decided to continue observing World Population Day to enhance awareness of population issues, including their relations to the environment and development.
Obi wrote on X: “The global community marks World Population Day. Properly understanding the population size and dynamics, and having an accurate population census is one of the most critical tools for national planning and development.
“The United Nations recommends that nations conduct population censuses at most every ten years. In Nigeria, however, the last population census was conducted in 2006, making it about 20 years now, without any clear population review.
“For us in Nigeria, World Population Day holds a significant message for everyone. Beyond the blessings of having a huge population, our dear nation stands at an advantage with its highly youthful and energetic population. Research shows that about 70% of Nigeria’s population is youths. Nigeria also stands as the country with the largest youth population in Africa and among the top 10 countries with the largest youth population in the world.
“This demographic advantage offers Nigeria great potential to establish itself as an economic powerhouse, not just in Africa, but on a global scale.
“The question, however, remains, “Have we made the right investments in these young Nigerians to ensure that we have a productive population contributing to national development?” We have over 18 million out-of-school children roaming the streets in Nigeria. A UNICEF report states that one in every five of the world’s out-of-school children is in Nigeria.
“What efforts are we making to take these young minds off the streets and give them the necessary education for development? What investments have we made in education which, as we know, remains the biggest investment any nation can make for its population?
“As it stands now, Nigeria has an unemployment and under-employment rate of over 35% and a youth unemployment and under-employment rate of over 45% which is one of the highest globally, fueling all sorts of criminality and social vices.
“This stems from the overall lack of productivity that pervades every sector of the nation. The micro, small and medium enterprise sector (MSMEs), which is the engine of economic growth in any nation, has continued to die gradually in Nigeria.
“On a day like this, may we remind ourselves that each and every one of us has a role to play in righting the wrongs of yesteryears which have kept us down.
“We must now collectively commit to building a nation where our children will see hope in their future, our youths will find opportunities that match their talents and efforts and our elderly will find peace and reward for their years of labour. We must collectively enthrone the leadership that will invest in and care for our population with no one left behind.
“A New Nigeria is POssible.”
