Abuja—The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has reaffirmed its decades-long commitment to bolstering Nigeria’s development agenda, with a renewed focus on population management, reproductive health, and gender equality, during a high-level visit to the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
Ms Muriel Mafico, the newly appointed UNFPA Resident Representative, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, on Monday. Ms Mafico commenced the meeting by commending the Ministry for the enduring partnership, a relationship she described as having remained strong for over five decades.
Senator Bagudu, while welcoming the delegation, praised UNFPA’s ongoing support for Nigeria’s development priorities. He underscored the core principle guiding the Federal Government’s ongoing economic reforms: a commitment to ensuring that resource allocation is directly linked to tangible results.
“Our focus is not just on spending more, but on spending better,” the Minister stated, emphasising that the current reforms are challenging but essential steps toward sustainable growth.
He acknowledged that development partners, such as UNFPA, are vital in strengthening that crucial link between investment and impact.
A key theme of the Minister’s remarks was the critical importance of designing interventions that align closely with Nigeria’s unique cultural and faith-based values.
“Nigeria is a faith-driven society,” Senator Bagudu explained. “Both the Bible and the Quran encourage responsible parenting and family life. When we reflect these values in our approaches, our results are stronger and more sustainable.”
The Minister extended a direct invitation to the UNFPA to contribute their expertise to the finalisation of Nigeria’s 2026–2030 National Development Plan, which is designed to integrate with the long-term Agenda 2050 framework. The aim is to ensure that human capital development remains central to the nation’s priorities, fostering a more inclusive and empowered economy.
In her response, the UNFPA Resident Representative lauded the Minister’s leadership and affirmed the agency’s willingness to continue supporting Nigeria’s population and development agenda.
Ms Mafico stressed the need for tailored programming, noting, “Context matters. We must design programmes that are culturally sensitive and community-owned.” She gave assurance that UNFPA’s core mission remains to ensure that women, girls, and young people are not left behind in the development process.
Furthermore, Ms Mafico assured the Minister of UNFPA’s steadfast commitment to supporting Nigeria’s critical national census exercise, describing the data collection as an indispensable tool for evidence-based planning across the nation.
