By: Femi Mustapha
The Northern Governors Forum (NGF) has united in recognizing the urgent need to invest in the first 2,000 days of life.
The “First 2,000 Days” refers to the crucial period from conception to approximately age five. This period is crucial for a child’s long-term development, as their brain and body undergo rapid growth and development. Adequate nutrition, healthcare, stimulation, and foundational learning interventions during this phase are essential for ensuring lifelong health, learning, and productivity.
News reports indicated that the NGF held a joint emergency meeting on Monday and Tuesday in Kaduna, where they also hosted representatives from the World Bank.
Dr. Ritgak Tilley-Gyado, the Team Lead for Stunting and Early Years at the World Bank, highlighted the demographic, economic, and service delivery imperatives for strengthening early childhood development. She stated that their participation in the forum was part of ongoing national consultations focused on enhancing Nigeria’s human capital, with an emphasis on priorities surrounding nutrition, early learning, and child development in the first 2,000 days.
Dr. Tilley-Gyado explained that World Bank support is coordinated through the Human Capital Development-Core Working Group (HCD-CWG), a committee of the National Economic Council, led by the Office of the Vice President. The HCD-CWG collaborates with an Analytical Advisory Group to align evidence, policy options, and delivery pathways for future early years programs.
In her presentation, she emphasized the importance of preventing stunting, supporting early stimulation, promoting foundational learning, and strengthening family systems to empower women, ensuring responsive caregiving and positive parenting.
Dr. Tilley-Gyado characterized building strong early-year outcomes as a strategy for people, economic growth, and social stability, particularly in regions facing demographic pressures.
Dr. Mathew Verghis, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, noted that states bear the most significant responsibility for delivery and play a central role in shaping a nationally coherent yet locally grounded approach to achieving results at scale. He stressed that the discussions reflect an emerging recognition that early years outcomes depend on multisectoral action, requiring strong collaboration across health and nutrition, education, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), women’s empowerment, food and diet, agriculture, and social protection.
Dr. Verghis added that these consultations are part of a deliberate, evidence-based process aimed at establishing a nationally coherent and state-responsive Early Years platform grounded in local realities and multisectoral priorities. He stated, “Nigeria’s Early Years agenda is expected to form a core component of broader human capital efforts being advanced under the National Economic Council’s Human Capital Development framework.”
In response, Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State highlighted the strong connections between poverty and poor early childhood development outcomes. He praised the World Bank’s results-based instruments and provided constructive suggestions for their enhancement.
Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State emphasized the significance of micronutrients, including locally produced fortified and biofortified foods. Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State acknowledged the complexities of multisectoral initiatives and affirmed his commitment to strengthening evidence-informed institutional and delivery arrangements.
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State stressed that while many challenges are longstanding issues, the region currently has a genuine opportunity to make significant progress through decisive investments in early years development. Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State expressed satisfaction with the state’s strong collaboration with the World Bank.
Other governors welcomed the analysis and expressed their readiness to engage further. They reached a consensus that investing in the first 2,000 days of a child’s life is the most important step they can take to foster peace, productivity, and a stronger economy in the northern region. The governors stated, “We cannot afford to miss another generation. The Early Years agenda must reflect our realities and support our frontline workers. We are ready to lead this initiative.”
