The Zamfara State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has launched a stakeholder sensitisation programme aimed at addressing demographic challenges and promoting sustainable development in the state.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the sensitisation exercise was organised by the State Ministry of Budget and Planning in collaboration with the UNFPA.
The first phase of the programme brought together participants from the media, civil society organisations (CSOs), academia, and government agencies. Subsequent sessions included commissioners, traditional rulers, directors, and heads of government institutions, among others.
The State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Abdulmalik Gajam, speaking at the opening session in Gusau on Thursday, described the partnership with UNFPA as a vital step toward improving population management and inclusive growth in Zamfara.
Gajam, represented by the ministry’s Director of Administration, Mr. Bashir Mailafiya, encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions and share insights that would help achieve the objectives of the programme.
“I am delighted to see diverse stakeholders and policymakers come together for a project that focuses on effective population management and human capital investment,” he said.
He reaffirmed that the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal remains committed to working with stakeholders to accelerate economic growth, improve productivity, and enhance social well-being.
“This opportunity will not occur automatically—it requires sustained collaboration and investments in key sectors such as education, healthcare, job creation, and good governance,” Gajam added.
He emphasized that Zamfara’s growing youth population must be healthy, well-educated, and productively engaged to drive innovation and inclusive growth.
“This engagement is not just another meeting; it is a call to action—a platform to find solutions to our demographic realities,” he concluded.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to Governor Lawal on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mr. Aliyu Adamu-Barmo, noted that the demographic dividend programme aligns with the state’s priorities in health, education, youth development, and women empowerment.
He assured that the SDGs Office would continue to partner with stakeholders to strengthen grassroots sensitisation and integrate demographic considerations into planning and policy formulation.
Adamu-Barmo added that the discussions would review Zamfara’s demographic profile and identify key policy gaps to support inclusive and sustainable growth.
The UNFPA Assistant Representative, Prof. Andat Dasogot, who facilitated the training, said stakeholder engagement was crucial given their role in community sensitisation and policy implementation.
He explained that the demographic dividend initiative aims to reduce dependency ratios and increase investment in education, healthcare, and skills development to unlock the state’s human capital potential.
“We expect participants to take the knowledge gained here back to their various institutions and communities to strengthen awareness and collective action,” Dasogot said.
Earlier, the UNFPA State Coordinator, Mr. Lawal Shehu, said the initiative seeks to deepen stakeholders’ understanding of the demographic dividend and promote coordinated strategies to harness it for the state’s sustainable development.
He noted that the programme aims to raise awareness among policymakers, development partners, and community leaders on the relevance of demographic planning to Zamfara’s long-term growth and prosperity.