The Bauchi State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to unlocking the potential of its youthful population through strategic investments in education, health, employment, and gender equality.
Governor Bala Mohammed, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Aminu Hammayo, made the declaration during a high-level sensitization meeting with key decision-makers and traditional rulers. The event, held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Bauchi, was organized by the Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Governor Mohammed emphasized that harnessing the demographic dividend is essential for accelerating economic growth and aligns with the Bauchi State Development Plan. He highlighted the urgent need to invest in reproductive health, quality education, decent employment, and gender equality to enable every young person in the state to thrive.
“The state is making strategic efforts to key into the national roadmap for harnessing the demographic dividend, which was launched in 2017,” he said, expressing appreciation to UNFPA for its continued partnership and support.
With over 60 percent of Bauchi’s population under the age of 25, the governor noted that harnessing the demographic dividend is not just a policy decision but a critical pathway to long-term prosperity — and the state is ready to lead the charge.
Also speaking at the event, the State Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination, Hajiya Amina Mohammed Katagum, described the workshop as part of a broader strategy to integrate all sectors of development planning under the demographic dividend roadmap. She underscored that youth remain at the heart of the state’s investment and development agenda.
She affirmed Bauchi’s commitment to fostering multisectoral collaboration with development partners to unlock the full potential of its vibrant youth population.
In a message delivered by UNFPA’s Gender and Reproductive Health Analyst and State Programme Officer, Deborah Tabara, the agency’s Resident Representative, Dr. Gifty Addico, reiterated that the demographic dividend programme remains a promising pathway for youth empowerment and accelerated development through targeted investment in health, education, and participation in governance.
“Since the launch of the roadmap in 2017, UNFPA has been strengthening national and subnational capacities to implement programmes that support sustainable development through youth investment,” the statement read.
UNFPA urged the Bauchi State Government to commit resources and establish systems that will effectively harness the demographic potential of its youthful population.
A similar sensitization meeting was earlier held with members of the academia, who play a vital role in research, data generation, and policy development.
UNFPA is the United Nations agency for sexual and reproductive health, committed to a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person reaches their full potential.
By Lizzy Carr
