The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has reaffirmed the commitment of all 36 state governors to making early childhood development (ECD) a strategic priority in Nigeria’s human capital development agenda.
The commitment was disclosed at the North-West Zonal Consultative Workshop on ECD, organised by the NGF in collaboration with the World Bank, Human Capital Development (HCD) and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
Representing the Director-General of the NGF Secretariat, Abdulateef Shittu, at the workshop, the Director of Media and Strategic Communications, Yunusa Abdullahi, said investment in the early years should be viewed as an investment in Nigeria’s health, education, productivity and economic future.
He said the period from pregnancy to the first five years of life was critical to a child’s development, as it lays the foundation for health, learning, cognitive development and future productivity.
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From policy to action
Mr Shittu said Nigeria needed to treat ECD as a development and economic priority rather than an intervention belonging to one sector.
“Investing in Early Childhood Development is therefore not only an investment in children; it is an investment in Nigeria’s human capital and long-term economic development,” he said.
He noted that while national policies and frameworks provide direction, their success would ultimately depend on how effectively state and local governments implement them.
Mr Shittu said the consultative workshops were designed to help states develop practical plans that reflect their specific needs, existing systems and institutional realities.
He, however, cautioned that producing plans should not become an end in itself.
According to him, the plans should provide a clear pathway for implementation, coordination, financing and accountability and should be integrated into existing state planning and budgeting processes.
Funding remains a concern
The governors’ renewed commitment comes against the backdrop of concerns about the financing of ECD in Nigeria.
A recent report by the Moving Minds Alliance found that millions of Nigerian children affected by conflict, displacement and economic hardship remain largely invisible in government budgets.
The report, which reviewed financing for ECD in Crisis between 2020 and 2025, found that Nigeria had no dedicated budget line for children in crisis.
It also found that less than five per cent of the country’s education budget benefited early childhood or emergency learning, while only 1.5 per cent of the health budget was allocated to early-childhood-focused services.
It also noted that financing for ECD was “fiscally invisible”, despite its links to health, nutrition, education, social protection and other determinants of child wellbeing.
Poverty shapes children’s opportunities
The funding concerns are reflected in the everyday experiences of families across Nigeria.
A recent PREMIUM TIMES report from Karshi, a satellite community in Abuja, showed how poverty and unstable living conditions can shape children’s development during their formative years.
The report found families struggling with food insecurity, unstable housing and limited access to learning materials, while some children lived in shop compartments never designed to serve as homes.
According to data cited in the report, food insecurity affects 34 per cent of children in Abuja, while nutrition deprivation affects 31.5 per cent.
The report also cited the Nigeria General Household Survey-Panel data showing a significant gap in developmental outcomes between children in urban and rural areas.
Governors commit to implementation
Against this, Mr Shittu said ECD could not be successfully delivered by a single ministry or agency, given its multisectoral nature.
He called for stronger collaboration across the health, nutrition, education, and social protection sectors to ensure that children receive the range of support they need to thrive.
Mr Shittu said the NGF’s Secretariat recognised the critical role of leadership in advancing ECD at the subnational level.
He disclosed that the 36 governors had formally reaffirmed their commitment to ECD at the NGF meeting held on 17 June 2026, recognising its importance to improving health and nutrition, school readiness, learning outcomes, future productivity and overall human capital development.
He said the NGF Secretariat would continue to use its convening and peer-learning roles to support states in strengthening their ECD systems and translating national priorities into coordinated and sustainable action at the subnational level.
He added that the NGF would continue to champion ECD as a development priority, facilitate shared learning among states and work with relevant partners to support states in implementing sustainable ECD programmes.
Mr Shittu urged participants to use the workshop to develop practical plans that are both ambitious and realistic, with clear and measurable outcomes for young children.