The single most important fact about the National Caregivers Summit is that it's the first of its kind in Nigeria. The event took place on Monday at the National Centre for Women Development in Abuja, as part of the 2026 Children's Day celebrations.
That's significant, because caregivers play a critical role in the country's development, yet they often go unrecognised and underappreciated. Women Affairs Minister Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim says the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to human-centered governance, human capital development, and social inclusion. They're working to strengthen the social contract with citizens, particularly families, children, and vulnerable groups.
The Minister notes that caregivers remain largely invisible in national development structures, despite being a critical pillar of national productivity. She says the administration won't ignore this issue.
"Caregiving remains a critical but often invisible pillar of national productivity, and government is committed to building a system where caregivers are properly recognised, supported and rewarded," she stated.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Esuabana Nko Asanye, also underscored the need for stronger national coordination on caregiving and child development. She says early investment in care systems is crucial for national growth and human capital development. This investment can't be delayed, as it's essential for the country's future.
Blessing Adesiyan, founder and CEO of Caring Africa, called for urgent investment in structured care systems to address Nigeria's demographic realities and improve women's participation in the economy. She explained that care is central to national productivity and economic inclusion, enabling families to function, women to participate, businesses to grow, and economies to scale. It's clear that care systems can't be ignored.
The programme featured presentations from students of government secondary schools, who called for the incorporation of etiquette, moral instruction, and value-based education into the national school curriculum. They want to promote discipline and responsible behaviour among young people. The students believe this will have a positive impact on the country.
The event also saw the unveiling of the "Etiquette Adventure," a value-based initiative aimed at promoting discipline, etiquette, and moral instruction among children and young people. The event was attended by the wife of the Chief of Defence Staff, heads of agencies and departments, representatives of UNICEF, the United Nations, ECOWAS, and other development partners. They're all committed to supporting the caregivers and children.
The Ministry's decision to launch the National Caregivers Summit is a significant step towards promoting value-based parenting and supporting caregivers in Nigeria. It's a step that won't be reversed, as the country continues to grapple with the challenges of human capital development. The summit provides a platform for stakeholders to discuss and address the issues affecting caregivers and children.
In the context of Nigeria's development, the National Caregivers Summit is a timely initiative. The country's population is projected to continue growing, with a significant proportion of young people. Investing in care systems and promoting value-based parenting is critical to ensuring that these young people grow up to become productive and responsible citizens. They won't be able to reach their full potential without proper care and support.
The summit's focus on promoting inclusion for every Nigerian child is also significant. Nigeria is a diverse country, with different cultures, languages, and socio-economic backgrounds. The summit provides an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss and address the issues affecting children from different backgrounds, and to promote inclusive and equitable care systems. This won't be an easy task, but it's essential for the country's future.
The National Caregivers Summit is the first of its kind in Nigeria. The event took place on Monday at the National Centre for Women Development in Abuja. The summit is part of the 2026 Children's Day celebrations. The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to human-centered governance, human capital development, and social inclusion. Caregivers remain largely invisible in national development structures, despite being a critical pillar of national productivity.
The Ministry is committed to building a system where caregivers are properly recognised, supported, and rewarded. Early investment in care systems is crucial for national growth and human capital development. The summit featured presentations from students of government secondary schools, who called for the incorporation of etiquette, moral instruction, and value-based education into the national school curriculum.
The National Caregivers Summit is a significant step towards promoting value-based parenting and supporting caregivers in Nigeria. As the country continues to grapple with the challenges of human capital development, the summit provides a platform for stakeholders to discuss and address the issues affecting caregivers and children. The summit's impact won't be limited to the caregivers and children, as it will also benefit the entire country. It's a step in the right direction, and it's expected to have a positive impact on the country's development.