Nigeria is intensifying efforts to strengthen its social protection architecture, with renewed emphasis on family resilience, the care economy and inclusive development.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Nko Asanye Esuabana, stated this in Jalingo, Taraba State, at the Pre-Summit technical session of the 26th National Council on Women Affairs, Child Advancement and Social Development. The theme was “Strengthening Families and Advancing the Care Economy for Inclusive Development: Operationalizing Nigeria’s Renewed Social Protection Architecture.”
Asanye said the technical session was designed to rigorously examine submissions from Ministries, Departments and Agencies, sub-national governments and stakeholders and translate them into actionable policy recommendations.
She described the National Council as the highest policy advisory body in the sector, saying its deliberations were critical to shaping plans, policies, projects and programmes for women, children, families and vulnerable groups.
The Permanent Secretary said “the 26th Council was convening at a defining moment in Nigeria’s development trajectory, as the country pursues the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, African Union Agenda 2063, ECOWAS Vision 2050, Medium Term National Development Plan 2026–2030 and Nigeria Agenda 2050, in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
According to her, strong families remain the foundation of stable societies and productive economies, while the care economy requires greater recognition for its contribution to human development and economic growth.
“For too long, care work has remained largely invisible despite its enormous contribution to national development,” Asanye said.
She noted that women and girls continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of unpaid care responsibilities, limiting opportunities for education, employment, entrepreneurship and leadership.
“Advancing the care economy therefore requires deliberate investments in plans, policies, infrastructure and services that recognise, reduce, redistribute and reward care work while creating decent employment opportunities within the Care Sector Economy,” she said.
Asanye urged delegates to move beyond identifying challenges and develop evidence-based, practical and sustainable solutions, particularly in intergovernmental coordination, financing of social welfare programmes, family-centred interventions, community-based care services, data-driven decision-making and accountability.
She also challenged participants to embrace emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Internet of Things and digital inclusion, while responding urgently to climate change and global warming.
The Taraba State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Mary Sinjen, said hosting the Council was a privilege and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to advancing the welfare, empowerment, protection and development of women, children and vulnerable persons.
“Your presence here is a testament to our shared commitment to advancing the welfare, empowerment, protection, and development of women, children, and vulnerable persons across Nigeria,” Sinjen said.
Representing the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Director, Muriel Mafico, UNFPA Gender and Gender-Based Violence Analyst, Hafsat Kagara, said UNFPA’s participation was focused on promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls to claim their human rights.
She said; “it also focused on sexual and reproductive health and the use of data to inform decision-making and programming for sustainable, holistic and inclusive national development by 2030.”
The technical session is expected to produce recommendations that will guide the resolutions and future policy direction of the 26th National Council
