How Nigeria can harness its demographic dividend for sustainable development

Andat Dasogot, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Olanrewaju Olaniyan, University of Ibadan
Osaretin Adonri, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Ratidzai Ndhlovu, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

With population of 182.8 in 2014 , Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. At 3.2% growth rate, Nigeria will be the third most populous country globally by 2020. this intervention used credible data to ensure evidence-based sensitization and advocacy for better understanding of the DD concept and to effectively galvanize actions for capitalizing on the DD potential in order to attain sustainable socio-economic development. It used partnerships were forged with government MDAs, academia, private sector, religious leaders, youth associations and prominent individuals and the UN in Nigeria to hold national and regional seminars on the potentials for DD in Nigeria. Using evidence, policy makers must create the necessary enabling environment, since different policy environments can lead to different growth paths, irrespective of the demographic effect.