31/07/2026
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, in partnership with the World Bank (World Bank Group) and the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning (Budget and National Planning), convened the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Technical Consultation and Prioritisation Workshop, bringing together Commissioners, policymakers, and stakeholders across sectors including Education, Women Affairs, Agriculture, Water Resources, Local Government, and Humanitarian Affairs.
The workshop served as a strategic platform to strengthen coordination across sectors and align national and subnational priorities for Early Childhood Development, recognising that the period from pregnancy to age five is critical to Nigeria’s human capital development agenda.
State representatives played a central role in the discussions, sharing state-specific challenges, opportunities, and implementation realities that will help shape a more responsive and coordinated national ECD framework.
Deliberations focused on three key objectives: strengthening understanding of the scientific and economic case for investing in Early Childhood Development across all sectors represented; reviewing national and state-level data on early childhood outcomes and risk factors; and building consensus around priority intervention areas and the most viable cross-sector platforms for implementation.
The workshop also highlighted the importance of conflict-sensitive planning, budgeting, and implementation, underscoring the need for ECD interventions that respond effectively to the realities of insecurity, displacement, and other vulnerabilities affecting children and families across different states.
By advancing evidence-based dialogue and intergovernmental collaboration, the consultation reinforced a shared commitment to building stronger foundations for Nigeria’s children and advancing sustainable human capital development across the country.
