Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu says focusing on early child education is a potent means of shaping the life of the child and ensuring a formidable future not only for the individual but the nation as a whole.
The First Lady was speaking at a high-level forum of women leaders with the central theme, “Investing in Early Childhood to Build Human Capital Throughout Life,” held in Bujumbura, Burundi.
Mrs Tinubu, who was in the company of the First Ladies of other African countries, said the role of women in nurturing the child is an important one especially at the early stage of life, stressing that it is the stage that strongly determines how the child turns out in life.
“Over the years, research has shown that the early years, particularly from birth to age eight, are crucial for a child’s cognitive, physical, and emotional growth.
“These years lay the foundation for their future, impacting not just education but also their long-term social, economic, and emotional well-being. Early childhood development also forms the cornerstone of sustainable development and national prosperity,” she said.
The Nigerian First Lady, therefore, called on her counterparts to champion the course by advocating for social change in their various countries.
“As First Ladies, we hold a unique position of influence, and with that comes the responsibility to shape policies that impact generations. I strongly believe that early childhood development should be at the top of our agenda due to its transformative impact on individuals and society.
“As women leaders and mothers of the nation, we can advocate for, influence, and lead social change, particularly for women and children. In my opinion, the first step for early years is to garner more support to complement the government’s efforts to effectively implement early childhood education policies.
“As Nigeria’s first Lady and a lifelong teacher, I recognise that Early childhood development is one of the most critical areas where we can make a lasting difference,” she stated.
While declaring the forum open, the President of the Republic of Burundi, Évariste Ndayishimiye noted that the family remains an integral factor for child outcomes in life.
He urged both parents to take the task more seriously.
“We cannot develop ourselves or our children without our culture. We have everything needed to succeed in our culture. A good relationship between the couple is important in raising good children,” he said.
Other speakers at the Forum including the First Ladies of Slovenia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Turkiye and representatives of the UN and UNICEF, harped on school feeding as an incentive to get children to come to school at an early age, especially in Africa.
They also spoke about enhancing peace in the region to make early child education a means of a better future for the region.
It was the Fifth edition of the Forum of Women Leaders held in Bujumbura, Burundi.
Lantana Nasir
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