World Bank, CSOs Seek Stronger Investment in Nigeria’s Early Childhood Development

By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

The World Bank and  Civil Society  Organisations ( CSOs) in Nigeria’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector have called for stronger investment, coordination and accountability to improve the development and wellbeing of Nigerian children particularly those below the age of five.

The call was made on Tuesday in Abuja at a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) and media engagement workshop on Early Childhood Development, organised as part of the World Bank’s ECD Inception Mission.

Speaking at the engagement, World Bank Task Team Leader for Early Childhood, Dr. Ritgak Tilley-Gyado, said Nigeria’s large population of young children made coordinated investment in their early years particularly important.

She noted that Nigeria has about 38 million children under the age of five, stressing that interventions in healthcare, nutrition, responsive caregiving, parenting, protection and early learning could significantly influence their educational outcomes, future earnings and contribution to national productivity.

According to her, the ECD agenda requires an “all-of-society” approach involving government at all levels, development partners, civil society organisations, traditional and faith-based institutions, the private sector and communities.

Tilley-Gyado also emphasised the role of civil society in promoting social accountability and ensuring that government and development partners fulfil commitments made towards improving outcomes for children.

She said the World Bank initiative would also pay attention to disability inclusion, environmental safeguards and protection of vulnerable populations as Nigeria strengthens its ECD interventions.

Also speaking, Dr. Gloria Ahmed, representing the Partnership on Early Childhood Development, described ECD as an investment in Nigeria’s human capital and future prosperity rather than merely a social intervention.

Ahmed called for stronger coordination among government institutions, development partners, CSOs, communities, parents and caregivers, stressing the importance of evidence-based planning, adequate financing, effective implementation and transparent monitoring.

She stated that civil society organisations were strategically positioned to amplify the voices of parents, caregivers and children, monitor service delivery and spending, create public awareness and hold institutions accountable for commitments to child development.

A Neurodevelopmental Paediatrician, Dr. Oluwatosin Olaremuteni, speaking on the State of  Early Childhood Development ( ECD) in Nigeria, said  that the first five years of life were critical to brain development, learning and the acquisition of physical, emotional and communication skills.

She  said the challenges facing Nigerian children require urgent and coordinated action, particularly in the areas of nutrition, healthcare, stimulation, early learning and protection.

According to her,  findings from the World Bank’s April 2026 Nigeria Development Update,  reported that about 110 out of every 1,000 Nigerian children die before the age of five, while 40 per cent are stunted and an estimated 52 per cent are not developmentally on track before entering school.

Olaremuteni emphasised that investment in early childhood development should not be treated as an isolated education issue, but as a national development priority requiring collaboration among government, families, communities, civil society organisations and development partners.

She noted that ensuring children receive adequate nutrition, healthcare, responsive care and early learning opportunities during their formative years would help build stronger human capital and improve Nigeria’s long-term development prospects.

She explained that the experiences and  quality of care a child receives during the early years could significantly shape the child’s ability to learn and develop later in life.

Olaremuteni identified  factors such as good health, adequate nutrition, responsive caregiving, safety and security, and opportunities  for early learning as essential components of nurturing care.

She warned that hunger, violence, neglect, infections and toxic stress could negatively affect children’s development.

According to her, only about 47.7 per cent of Nigerian children are developing on track, with significant gaps also recorded in literacy, numeracy and executive functioning.

The Paeduatrician called for stronger collaboration among government, CSOs, development partners and communities to address the challenges confronting children and strengthen existing ECD interventions.

The stakeholders stressed that experiences during the first five years of life have far-reaching implications for children’s health, learning, productivity and future contribution to national development.

They therefore urged sustained investment in the early years as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s human capital and ensure that children have the foundation required to reach their full potential.

Dr. Ado Muhammad  represented  by Dr. Zainab  Mohammed who  spoke on the brain architecture  is from from under five  ( U5) years said that Dr. Zainab Mohammed, who represented Dr. Ado Muhammad  who spoke at the engagement highlighted the importance of investing in quality Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes, particularly in shaping the architecture of the developing brain.

She said investments in quality ECD programmes could generate returns of between $7 and $12 for every $1 invested, underscoring the long-term economic and social benefits of giving children a strong foundation in their early years.

According to her, the early years are a critical period for brain development, making adequate investment in nutrition, healthcare, responsive caregiving, protection and early learning essential to children’s lifelong wellbeing and development.

She stressed that strengthening ECD programmes would not only improve outcomes for children but also contribute to the development of Nigeria’s human capital and future productivity.

NewsGrid reportd that the engagement was aimed at strengthening CSOs’ and the media’s understanding of ECD, enhance monitoring and accountability, and drive greater investment in programmes that support children during their critical early years.