For the past two years, Population Matters has worked with the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) to address the underlying causes and impacts of high population growth in Nigeria. 

Our Director of Advocacy and Influence, Jameen Kaur, and Director of Research and Learning, Josh Hill, travelled to Abuja to meet our long-time partner CISLAC, community representatives, government officials, and policy makers.  

Together, we called on the Nigerian government to take stronger, evidence-based action to manage the impacts of high population growth and confront the underlying root causes- principally unmet need for family planning and lack of access to education, factors that particularly affect young girls and women. 

Participants share insights on how progress can be amplified across different states in Nigeria.   

Diverse States, One Nation 

Nigeria is the world’s sixth most populated country, home to 238.7 million people- almost 3% of the global population. Its population is growing rapidly, with projections indicating it will reach 400 million by 2050, making it the third most populous nation on earth.  

Fertility rates vary widely across the six geopolitical zones that make up the country- reflecting social, economic, religious and cultural differences. According to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, rural women have an average of 5.6 children, compared with 3.9 in urban areas.  

These figures highlight the need for tailored locally informed strategies that recognise Nigeria’s demographic diversity. Solutions must reflect the realities and priorities of each community. 

Bintu Ajao, Regional Coordinator, works to see positive shift in perception of population management. Based in Lagos she shared insights for the South-West Region. Lagos is the third largest city in Africa by inhabitants- with over 17 million people.    

Jameen Kaur, Director of Advocacy and Influence, Population Matters captures the differences that inform fertility rates between and within regions in Nigeria.  

Nigeria hasn’t conducted a formal population census in 19 years, making it even harder to plan accurately for its growing numbers. 

A Focus on Girls and Education 

Comfort Attah, Regional Coordinator, North East Region – a region that faces multiple challenges. ‘I envision a Nigeria where communities are empowered to drive their own development, where women, girls and youth have equal opportunities, and where population growth is managed through informed decision-making.’ 

Regional coordinator highlights challenges facing adolescent girls who are forced to drop out of the education system due to unintended pregnancies. These can be the result of gender-based-violence, or a lack of access to contraceptives or comprehensive sexuality education. 

Around 15% of girls age 15-19 in Nigeria have been pregnant, and about 44% marry before turning 18. Early pregnancies often disrupt girls’ education and reinforce cycles of inequality. About 51% of girls complete secondary school, although these numbers are lower in northern regions where the risk of gender-based violence and negative cultural practices act as barriers to education. 

Jameen Kaur, Josh Hill and Margaret Edison, former director of the National Population Commission, meet Nasir Isa Kwarra, Chairperson, National Population Commission 

The median age in Nigeria is 18.1. With such a youthful population comes intense pressure on schools. This is why discussions with the Ministry of Education focused on integrated solutions- combining comprehensive sexuality education with accessible healthcare. This approach enables young people to pursue their education while making informed reproductive choices.  

When girls are educated, the whole community thrives. Supporting girls to complete secondary school raises household incomes, builds community resilience, and drives sustainable development. Research from the World Bank shows that improving education for adolescent girls could add US$2.4 trillion to African economies by 2040. 

CHOICE DRIVING CHANGE

Regional coordinators and a journalist from across Nigeria shared their experiences and insights, identifying what approaches and initiatives create the greatest impact. Among these, they emphasised the power of community-led action and programmes that engage men to highlight the benefits of child spacing.  

CULTURE AND COMMUNITIES

Abubakar Jimnoh, Project Manager, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, in Nigeria shares key learnings from their two-year project with Population Matters ‘two years ago, communities were not talking unsustainable project growth.’ 

Nigerian culture places great value on family. For many, children are a gift – a blessing, and a source of social security and care in old age. As a result, promoting the idea of “smaller families” often clashes with cultural values that link fertility to prosperity. With children seen as blessings, even when a pregnancy is unintended, it’s rarely considered unwanted. This means family planning often resonates more when its framed as a way of spacing of pregnancies rather than limiting or avoiding them. 

Josh Hill, Director of Research and Learning, Population Matters, captures regional coordinators’ insights that dispel presumptions on what were key priorities driving high fertility rates.

Engaging boys and men is also vital to shifting cultural norms. Evidence shows many men are overachieving their desired fertility. Expanding opportunities for everyone to exercise reproductive choice is essential. That requires: 

• Access to voluntary family planning 

• Comprehensive education on safe contraceptive methods 

• Reliable availability through pharmacies, public clinics, and mobile outreach services.  

Progress is being made. Around 12% of married women in Nigeria used modern contraceptive methods; double the rate in 1990. Yet gaps remain. Health care expenditure is only 5% of Nigeria’s national budget, leaving major work ahead to ensure modern contraceptive methods are available to all who want them. 

Maryam Madi, Lawyer with Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) reflect on the findings of the Population Dialogue, CISLAC and Population Matters joint project.   

Addressing population is not just about numbers. It means ensuring every individual can exercise their reproductive rights, make informed choices and live a healthy, productive life.  

Nigeria’s youthful population means there are around 3.5 million people entering the labour force every year, with a lack of employment driving many people to emigrate in search of better opportunities. To build a sustainable future, it’s necessary to tackle the root causes of why people over achieve their fertility preferences. This means: 

• Investing in people-centred health systems,

• Improving Access, Availability, Affordability and Quality (AAAQ) of health care, 

• Expanding evidence-based education,  

• Removing structural barriers that perpetuate and entrench poverty,  

• Partnering with communities to confront and prevent the harms of gender-based-violence. 

A lighter moment of reflection between journalist Rahma Olamide Oladosu (left) and CISLAC colleague. Olamide Oladosu captured insights from the workshop for an article on fertility and inter-related human rights issues for Economic Confidential. 

The way forward must be integrated and inclusive.  Bringing policy makers, community leaders, and experts into one room is only the beginning of the journey.  

By empowering women, educating communities, ensuring universal access to safe and modern contraception and comprehensive sexual education, Nigeria can transform the vibrant energy of its youth into lasting prosperity.

Jameen Kaur, Josh Hill and the entire regional workshop attendees convened by CISLAC.