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 NGF made this known at the North-West Zonal Consultative Workshop on Early Childhood Development, organised in collaboration with the World Bank’s Human Capital Development Programme and the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
Representing the Director-General of the NGF Secretariat, Dr Abdulateef Shittu, the Director of Media and Strategic Communications, Mallam Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi, described “investment in the early years as a long-term investment in Nigeria’s health, education, productivity and economic development.”
He said the period from pregnancy to the first five years of life is critical to a child’s health, learning, cognitive development and future productivity.
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Abdullahi stressed that ECD should be treated as a development and economic imperative requiring coordinated action across sectors.
He said national policies would only have meaningful impact when translated into concrete programmes at the state and local government levels.
“States must therefore develop practical and implementable ECD plans that reflect their specific needs and realities, while ensuring adequate financing, coordination and accountability.”
The NGF disclosed that all 36 governors had formally reaffirmed their commitment to ECD during the Forum’s meeting on June 17, 2026.
He said the governors recognised investment in ECD as fundamental to improving health, nutrition, school readiness, learning outcomes, future productivity and overall human capital development.
According to him, the Forum would continue to support states through peer learning, coordination and collaboration with development partners to translate national ECD priorities into sustainable action.
Abdullahi urged participants at the workshop to develop ambitious but realistic plans capable of delivering measurable improvements in outcomes for young children.
