By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has called for the prioritisation of Early Childhood Development (ECD) as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s long-term growth and development strategy.
The Governor made the call at the National Development Update (NDU), a bi-annual forum organised by the World Bank, held in Abuja.
The event provides insights into Nigeria’s economic outlook and explores pathways for sustainable and inclusive development.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director-General of Press Affairs, Government House, Gombe, Ismaila Uba Misilli, Governor Yahaya emphasised the need for a coordinated and long-term national framework that places child development at the centre of policy planning.
The high-level forum attracted top government officials and economic experts, including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, among other senior public officials.
Themed “Shaping Nigeria’s Future through Early Childhood Development,” the event featured a panel session where Governor Yahaya, represented by the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Muhammad Gambo Magaji, contributed to discussions on strengthening ECD policies nationwide.
Magaji advocated the development of a 25-year national Early Childhood Development Plan to harmonise policies and interventions across all tiers of government.
He noted that such a framework would ensure a unified and strategic approach to child development across the federation.
According to him, sustainable economic growth depends not only on infrastructure development but also on deliberate investments in human capital, particularly during the formative years of a child’s life.
The Governor’s position aligns with concerns raised by the World Bank, which warned that Nigeria’s long-term prosperity hinges on addressing challenges in child development through improved coordination in health, nutrition, water, sanitation and foundational education systems.
“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.
That is why Early Childhood Development must remain at the heart of national planning and policy coordination,” the Governor stated.
He further highlighted the state government’s efforts in strengthening foundational learning through the establishment of nursery and kindergarten schools across all local government areas, in line with World Bank-supported initiatives aimed at improving early education outcomes.
“For us in Gombe, we are making deliberate investments in early childhood development at the grassroots level. So far, over 350,000 children have been taken off the streets and returned to the classroom,” he added.
The Commissioner was accompanied to the event by the Director-General, Abuja Liaison Office, Dr. Jamilu Jafaru.
