Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Iman Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has strengthened partnerships with the National Population Commission (NPC) to drive gender-responsive policies, expand birth registration coverage, and ensure the deployment of reliable population data for inclusive and sustainable development.
The Minister made the commitment while receiving the Chairman of the Commission, Aminu Yusuf, and his delegation during a strategic engagement on Monday, February 23, 2026 in Abuja.
Describing the visit as timely and strategic, the Minister welcomed the collaboration, especially as the Renewed Hope Agenda advances interventions for women, children, and families.
“These are the kinds of issues we want to address together, ensuring that children are properly registered, whether at community level or in hospitals, and that we have the opportunity to study and understand our population dynamics,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated.
With the President’s declaration of 2026 as the Year of Family and Social Development, the meeting underscored the importance of leveraging reliable data, strong systems, and institutional collaboration to ensure programmes reach intended beneficiaries effectively and at scale.
Protection of Nigerian Children
Discussions included closer partnership with the NPC to support the deployment of Universal Child Benefits as part of a broader framework for accelerating the development and protection of Nigerian children.
The Minister also commended the Commission for institutionalising a strong gender lens within its workforce, noting that women in leadership positions strengthen national data architecture and help ensure that policies and systems reflect the realities and needs of all citizens.
The NPC Chairman, Aminu Yusuf, expressed appreciation for the warm reception, emphasised the Ministry’s critical role in promoting the welfare, protection, and empowerment of women, children, and families across Nigeria.
“Our visit underscores the Commission’s determination to enhance institutional synergy in areas where demographic data, civil registration, and gender-focused development intersect,” Dr. Yusuf said.
Evidence-Based Policymaking
He noted that as custodian of population statistics and Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS), the Commission remains committed to producing reliable and timely data to guide evidence-based policymaking, equitable service delivery, and inclusive national planning.
According to him, accurate data on births, deaths, fertility, migration, and household structures are indispensable for designing and monitoring effective gender-responsive programmes and meeting national and global development targets.
Highlighting key areas of cooperation, he identified strengthening birth registration, particularly for the girl child, as a priority.
“Through joint advocacy, community mobilisation, and awareness campaigns, we can significantly improve birth registration rates nationwide,” he noted.
Technical Support
Dr. Yusuf further stressed that achieving Nigeria’s development goals requires integrating population data into policy design and implementation, affirming that the Commission stands ready to provide technical support, share relevant data and analytical outputs, and collaborate on programmes that enhance the well-being of women and families.
The Ministry and the National Population Commission closed the engagement with a firm resolve to translate dialogue into measurable outcomes, reinforcing their commitment to inclusive national development anchored on credible data and coordinated action.
They pledged sustained commitments to deepen collaboration in advancing gender equity, protecting children, and empowering families through evidence-based, data-driven decision-making.
This partnership further efforts to anchor Nigerian women, children and families at the centre of national planning under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.