ABUJA, Nigeria – 17 February 2026 – In a key strategic engagement focused on Nigeria’s next national census, Prof. Joseph Akinkugbe Adelegan, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Partners in Population and Development (PPD), was received by Dr. Aminu Yusuf, the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC) of Nigeria, on Monday, 16th February 2026.
The high-level meeting, held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, served as a vital platform to reinforce the partnership between PPD and Nigeria’s principal institution for population data and management. Also present at the meeting was Dr. Kehinde Seun-Addie, the Acting Director of the Population Management and Development Department of the Commission.
During the courtesy visit, Prof. Adelegan introduced himself as the new head of PPD and provided a comprehensive overview of the organization’s mandate as an intergovernmental alliance of 28 member states dedicated to promoting South-South Cooperation in reproductive health, population, and sustainable development.
The discussion quickly centered on concrete areas for collaboration, with a primary focus on Nigeria’s upcoming population census. The leaders engaged in a detailed conversation about how PPD and the NPC can work together to ensure a successful and modern census. A significant part of the dialogue was dedicated to exploring how to build the necessary infrastructure both technical and human to execute a census of this scale effectively. Prof. Adelegan highlighted that PPD could facilitate knowledge sharing from other member countries that have recently conducted digital censuses, offering valuable lessons and best practices.
This forward-looking engagement reaffirms the commitment of both PPD and the National Population Commission to work closely together. By focusing on practical collaboration for the national census, the partnership is set to directly address Nigeria’s population dynamics and advance its sustainable development agenda through effective South-South cooperation.
