FG Launches Platform To Drive Family Planning, Human Capital Development

The Federal Government has launched a high-level inter-ministerial platform to strengthen coordination on family planning, healthcare, human capital development and national development.

The platform was inaugurated in Abuja by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, who described Nigeria’s growing population as a potential major asset if backed by adequate investment in health, education, empowerment and productivity.

Pate said Nigeria’s population, currently estimated at about 230 million, could rise to between 450 million and 500 million by 2050.

He stressed that family planning, reproductive health, maternal and child health, girls’ education and youth empowerment were interconnected aspects of human capital development that required coordinated action across government.

According to him, the new platform will bring relevant ministries, departments and agencies together to align priorities, strengthen accountability and drive practical interventions.

He said the success of the initiative would be judged by measurable results rather than meetings and discussions.

The minister also announced progress towards the domestic production of family planning commodities, describing the development as an important step towards reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported supplies, creating jobs and retaining more economic value within the country.

He called for sustained funding and implementation at the sub-national level to ensure that national policies translate into improved outcomes for citizens.

The Managing Director of the North, West and Central Africa Regional Hub of Family Planning 2030, Dr Alain Damiba, commended the Federal Government for establishing the platform.

Damiba described family planning as a shared responsibility across government and a strategic investment in human capital, noting that its benefits extend beyond healthcare to education, economic productivity and the wellbeing of families and communities.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom S., represented at the event by the Director of Family Health, Dr Ahmad Muhammad Ozi, said improved health outcomes required coordinated policies, aligned investments, effective partnerships and shared accountability.

She urged members of the platform to prioritise practical measures that would strengthen collaboration and produce measurable results.

The Federal Government and participating stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to sustained collaboration and coordinated investment to strengthen family planning, improve health outcomes and accelerate human capital development for a healthier and more productive Nigeria.