The World Bank has cautioned that Nigeria’s goal of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2050 could falter if urgent investments in early childhood development are not made.
Experts speaking at a policy dialogue in Abuja highlighted that gaps in nutrition, healthcare, early learning, and protection during the first five years of life are already shaping the productivity of millions of Nigerian children.
Ritgak Tilley-Gyado, Lead of the World Bank’s Early Years Programme, stressed that “investing in children under five is not social spending—it is an economic strategy.” She noted that disparities in learning, health, and life skills often begin in infancy and, if unaddressed, become increasingly difficult and costly to reverse.
Tilley-Gyado explained that two children born with equal potential can experience radically different developmental paths based on early nutrition, safety, and caregiving. By the time they start school, these differences are often entrenched, affecting future workforce readiness, innovation capacity, and economic output.
Experts also raised concerns about fragmented government policies. “Children do not grow in administrative silos,” Tilley-Gyado noted, emphasizing that health, nutrition, sanitation, safety, and early learning are interconnected and require coordinated interventions across ministries.
Ikemesit Effiong of SBM Intelligence added that Nigeria is already losing critical productivity before children even enter the formal education system. Citing the 2024 Demographic and Health Survey, he reported that neonatal mortality remains high at 41 deaths per 1,000 live births and about 40% of children under five are stunted due to chronic undernutrition.
Paediatric neuroscientist Tosin Olorunmoteni stressed that brain development is most rapid in the first 2,000 days of life, warning that nearly half of Nigerian children live in poverty. She called for a multisectoral national strategy to support all children, with targeted interventions for those at risk, stronger data collection, and improved service delivery.
Joe Abah, Country Director of DAI Global, described early childhood underinvestment as a potential “demographic disaster,” noting that Nigeria risks turning its youthful population into a liability rather than a demographic dividend. He advocated for a unified framework with clear budget commitments, high-level oversight, and accountability to place children at the center of policy action.
Vahyala Kwaga of BudgIT Foundation highlighted the need for transparent public finance for early childhood programs, warning that weak tracking of allocations limits advocacy and accountability.
The dialogue brought together think tanks, development partners, and academics to explore how early childhood interventions—each dollar potentially yielding $13 in future economic returns—can help Nigeria leverage its demographic advantage and achieve sustainable long-term growth.
