NPC CHAIRMAN, SSA TO THE PRESIDENT ON STUDENT ENGAGEMENT SEEK COLLABORATION ON NATIONAL DATA AND CENSUS

NPC CHAIRMAN, SSA TO THE PRESIDENT ON STUDENT ENGAGEMENT SEEK COLLABORATION ON NATIONAL DATA AND CENSUS

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The Chairman of National Population Commission (NPC), Dr. Aminu Yusuf, today, 12th January 2026, received the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Hon. Comrade Asefon Sunday Dayo, and his team on a courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

In his welcome remarks, Dr. Yusuf commended the delegation for their visit and expressed readiness to partner with the Office of the SSA on initiatives that align with the Commission’s mission and its seven-point agenda.

“I appreciate your visit and your call for collaboration, which aligns closely with our vision at the Commission. Your appointment as SSA on Student Engagement is well-deserved, given your previous experience as President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). It’s always important to involve individuals with relevant experience in national service,” Dr. Yusuf said.

Recounting his own history in student leadership, the NPC Chairman revealed that he had been active in student affairs from his university days and once served on a Senate Committee on Student Affairs as far back as 1980.

“Government then understood the strength and importance of student movements. So, through your office, it is crucial that today’s government also continues to engage constructively with student bodies across institutions,” he added.

Dr. Yusuf assured Hon. Asefon of the Commission’s willingness to work closely with his office, especially in areas of data generation, student engagement, and census awareness.

He disclosed that preparations for the forthcoming Population and Housing Census are ongoing, pending the official proclamation of the census date by the President.

“The proclamation of the census date is the prerogative of Mr. President. Once that is done, everyone can be assured that the next census will proceed as planned. I am confident that my appointment by the President underscores his commitment to conducting a credible and successful census,” he stated.

Earlier, Hon. Comrade Asefon Sunday Dayo, in his remarks, said that the absence of verifiable data on Nigerian students poses a major challenge to planning and educational development in the country.

He explained that despite references to “over 41 million Nigerian students,” there is currently no precise data to validate such figures, adding that even the Federal Ministry of Education lacks a comprehensive database of students across all levels of learning.

“Without accurate data, it becomes difficult for government to plan effectively for education and other sectors. This is why I believe the collaboration between my office and the National Population Commission is critical to develop a verifiable student data system integrated with the national database,” Asefon said.

He emphasized that such an initiative would not only help policymakers but also empower students through improved data literacy and awareness programmes.

“We intend to work with the NPC on training, workshops, and capacity-building programmes to improve students’ understanding of data and demographics. Many of today’s students were not even in primary school when the last census took place, and so they need to be enlightened about the process and its national importance,” he added.

Asefon also pledged the full support of Nigerian students for the successful conduct of the next population census. He proposed that students could be mobilized as census ambassadors and volunteer ad-hoc staff to support logistics and reduce costs.

“Nigerian students represent the largest demographic group in the country. Engaging them as partners will strengthen the credibility and reach of the census,” he concluded, while commending Dr. Yusuf as a man of “capacity and capability.”

In his contribution, the Director-General of the NPC, Dr. Osifo Tellson Ojogun, stressed the importance of creating awareness about census exercises and civil registration among students.

He noted that Nigerian students, because of their numerical strength and nationwide presence, constitute a valuable partner in the Commission’s drive for public sensitization.

“Students can play an important role in promoting awareness of census, Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS), and population management. Their involvement can enhance community outreach and ensure broader understanding of the census process,” Dr. Ojogun said.

He further emphasized that students would be useful as ad-hoc personnel during the census, noting that their institutional affiliations make them easier to verify and mobilize than temporary recruits without traceable addresses.

The meeting was also attended by the NPC Chairman’s aides.