The Northern Governors Forum (NGF) has emphasised the urgency of investing in the first 2,000 days of a child’s life, from conception to approximately age five, describing it as critical for long-term development.
The period, known as the “First 2,000 Days,” is crucial as a child’s brain and body undergo rapid growth, making adequate nutrition, healthcare, stimulation, and foundational learning interventions essential for lifelong health, learning, and productivity.
The disclosure came during a meeting in Kaduna where the forum hosted the World Bank to discuss early childhood development priorities.
The Team Lead for Stunting and Early Years at the World Bank, Dr Ritgak Tilley-Gyado, outlined the demographic, economic, and service-delivery imperatives for strengthening the first 2,000 days of infants’ lives.
“We met with the forum as part of ongoing national consultations on strengthening Nigeria’s human capital, focusing on early years priorities, with emphasis on nutrition, early learning, and child development in the first 2,000 days of life,” she said.
Tilley-Gyado explained that World Bank support is channelled through the Human Capital Development-Core Working Group (HCD-CWG), a committee of the National Economic Council coordinated by the Office of the Vice President, supporting evidence-based, multi-sectoral engagements with federal ministries, development partners, and state governments.
She highlighted the importance of preventing stunting, supporting early stimulation and foundational learning, and strengthening family systems to empower women and ensure responsive caregiving and positive parenting.
Also, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Dr Mathew Verghis said, “States hold the largest delivery responsibility and are therefore central to shaping a nationally coherent, yet locally grounded approach that can deliver results at scale.”
He added that early years outcomes depend on multi-sectoral action, requiring collaboration across health and nutrition, education, WASH, women’s empowerment, food and diets, agriculture, and social protection.
In response, Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi highlighted the strong links between poverty and poor early childhood development outcomes.
He commended the World Bank’s results-based instruments and offering suggestions for strengthening them.
Niger State Governor Umaru Bago emphasised the importance of micronutrients, including fortified and bio-fortified foods produced locally.
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang acknowledged the complexity of multi-sectoral initiatives and affirmed his commitment to evidence-informed delivery arrangements.
Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal stressed that while many challenges were legal, decisive early years investments offer a real opportunity to improve outcomes.
Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya expressed satisfaction with the state’s strong partnership with the World Bank.
Other Governors welcomed the analysis and affirmed readiness to engage further.
They agreed that investing in the first 2,000 days of children is the most important step toward peace, productivity, and a stronger northern economy.
PIAK