Gombe Governor Calls for 25-Year National Early Childhood Development Plan at World Bank Forum

At a high-level policy gathering hosted by the World Bank in Abuja, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has urged Nigeria to adopt a coordinated and long-term national strategy on Early Childhood Development (ECD), describing it as critical to the country’s future growth.

Speaking at the National Development Update (NDU), a bi-annual forum focused on Nigeria’s economic outlook, the governor emphasized the need to place child development at the center of national planning. The event, themed “Shaping Nigeria’s Future through Early Childhood Development,” brought together top policymakers and economic experts.

The governor, who was represented by Gombe State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Muhammad Gambo Magaji, proposed the creation of a 25-year national ECD framework. According to him, such a plan would harmonize policies across federal, state, and local governments into a unified strategy aimed at strengthening human capital from early childhood.

The forum was attended by key government officials, including Minister of Finance Wale Edun, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Jumoke Oduwole, and Central Bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso, alongside heads of agencies and economic stakeholders.

Governor Yahaya aligned his position with concerns raised by the World Bank about Nigeria’s child development challenges, noting that sustainable prosperity depends not only on macroeconomic reforms but also on investments in health, nutrition, education, and social services for children.

He highlighted Gombe State’s ongoing efforts in this area, including the establishment of nursery and kindergarten schools across all local government areas. The initiative, he said, has already helped return over 350,000 children to the classroom.

“Our commitment in Gombe State is to pursue forward-looking policies that nurture resilient communities, deepen human capital development, and guarantee long-term prosperity for future generations,” the governor stated.

The delegation to the event also included Dr. Jamilu Jafaru, Director-General of Abuja Liaison.