On the occasion of World Population Day, the National Population Commission (NPC), in collaboration with Education as a Vaccine (EVA) and other partners, convened stakeholders to commemorate the day through a series of activities focused on advancing population and development priorities. During the event, Ivanna Itoandon delivered a goodwill message on behalf of young people, underscoring the importance of meaningful youth engagement in shaping policies and programmes that affect their lives.
The goodwill message delivered by Ivanna Itoandon on behalf of young people is reproduced below:
Permit me to respectfully stand on the already established protocol
Good morning, distinguished ladies and gentlemen—and, most importantly, my fellow young people.
My name is Ivanna Itoandon. I am 15 years old, and it is both an honour and a privilege to deliver this goodwill message on behalf of adolescents and young people across Nigeria.
I would like to thank the organizers for creating this platform and, more importantly, for making space for a young person’s voice in this important conversation. Conversations about young people should never happen without young people in the room. We are not just topics to be discussed; we are people who deserve to be heard.
I am here today with Education as a Vaccine, EVA—a women-led, youth-focused organization that believes in the power of young people. EVA works alongside us to advance our rights to health, education, protection, and overall well-being, so that every adolescent and young person can reach their full potential.
That is why this year’s theme, “Realizing the Hopes and Aspirations of Young People: Today and for the Future,” speaks so strongly to me.
Realizing our aspirations is about more than encouraging us to dream. Young Nigerians already know how to dream, and we dream big. The real question is whether we will be given the opportunities, resources, support, and freedom to turn those dreams into reality.
As a young person, I often hear people talk about “the future” as if it is some faraway place that will arrive one day. But let me respectfully remind everyone: for me and millions of young Nigerians, the future has already started.
We are learning, creating, innovating, speaking up, supporting our families, and contributing to our schools and communities every day. So, respectfully, we are not going to sit quietly and wait for our turn. This is our turn too.
My generation is full of ideas, energy, courage, and talent. What we are not always given is a fair chance.
Too many adolescents still struggle to access quality education, youth-friendly healthcare, mental health support, digital opportunities, and the skills needed to succeed in a changing world. Many girls still miss school because something as natural as menstruation becomes a monthly obstacle when safe menstrual products, clean water, private toilets, and supportive facilities are unavailable.
These challenges are not impossible to solve. They continue because the right choices and investments have not always been made.
And if we are serious about planning for young people, then we must also be serious about counting us.
Nigeria’s last national population and housing census was conducted in 2006. That means many young Nigerians, including me were not even born when the country last completed a census. Just pause and think about that.
Accurate and inclusive census data are not merely numbers on a page; they help determine our future. We cannot properly plan for young people if we do not accurately know who we are, where we live, and what we need.
Every young person must count, and every young person must be counted, including girls, young people with disabilities, those living in hard-to-reach communities, and those who are out of school or displaced. No one should be left out. Period.
Today’s theme reminds us that realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people requires more than promises, speeches, slogans, and photographs. We need real action—not just vibes—and yes, we will notice the difference.
It requires meaningful investment in our education, health, safety, well-being, and leadership. It means creating safe spaces where young people can speak honestly, be taken seriously, and participate in decisions that affect our lives.
And that participation must be meaningful. We do not want to be invited simply so someone can tick a box and say young people were represented. Give us the information, resources, support, and decision-making power to contribute properly. We are ready to sit at the table, not as decorations, but as partners.
And to my fellow young people: clock it—your voice matters. Speak up, take up space, participate, ask questions, and hold our leaders accountable. We belong in every room where decisions about our lives and our future are being made.
On behalf of adolescents and young people across Nigeria, I call on our leaders, policymakers, development partners, parents, and teachers to keep believing in us, investing in us, and most importantly, working with us.
Do not see us only as the leaders of tomorrow. See us as partners today: partners with ideas, lived experiences, solutions, and the determination to help build a healthier, fairer, more inclusive, and more prosperous Nigeria.
We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for equal opportunities, supportive systems, and a genuine chance to thrive. That is not too much to ask.
When young people are educated, healthy, protected, counted, and empowered, everyone benefits. Families become stronger, communities become safer, our economy grows, and our nation moves forward.
Young people are ready.
The question is: are our systems ready to support us?
Thank you for listening. Thank you for believing in young people. And I wish us all a fruitful, honest, and impactful World Population Day commemoration.
Thank you.
