Northern governors have reached a unified position on the critical need to prioritise investments in children’s earliest years, especially the first 2,000 days of life.
The “first 2,000 days” covers the period from conception to around age five, a window during which a child’s brain and body develop rapidly. Adequate nutrition, healthcare, stimulation, and early learning are essential during this stage to support lifelong wellbeing, learning capacity and productivity.
Governors from across the region gathered in Kaduna on Monday and Tuesday for an emergency session that also featured discussions with the World Bank team.
During the engagement, Dr. Ritgak Tilley-Gyado, Team Lead for Stunting and Early Years at the World Bank, outlined the demographic, economic and service-delivery factors that make early-life investment indispensable.
She noted that the meeting was part of nationwide consultations on improving Nigeria’s human capital, with a focus on nutrition, early learning, and child development within the first 2,000 days.
According to her, the World Bank’s involvement is channelled through the Human Capital Development Core Working Group (HCD-CWG), a committee of the National Economic Council coordinated by the Office of the Vice President.
She added that the CWG, supported by an Analytical Advisory Group, is driving a broader process of aligning evidence, policy choices and implementation pathways toward a future national programme for early childhood development.
In her detailed presentation, Tilley-Gyado stressed the need to tackle stunting, promote early stimulation and foundational learning, and reinforce family support systems that empower women, encourage responsive caregiving, and strengthen positive parenting practices.
She explained that building strong early-years outcomes is not only a people-centred approach but also a strategy for economic resilience and stability, especially in regions experiencing rapid population growth.
Speaking during the session, Dr. Mathew Verghis, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, emphasised that states bear the greatest responsibility for service delivery. As such, they are central to shaping a coordinated but locally adaptable approach that can produce results at scale.
Verghis noted that improving early-years outcomes demands multisectoral collaboration, involving health, nutrition, education, WASH, women’s empowerment, food systems, agriculture and social protection.
He added that the ongoing consultations form part of an evidence-driven effort to establish a unified national early-years agenda aligned with state-level needs and priorities.
He further explained that the Early Years agenda will be a major component of the National Economic Council’s broader Human Capital Development framework.
Contributing to the discussion, Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi highlighted the strong connection between poverty and poor child development outcomes. He welcomed the World Bank’s results-based approach and suggested ways to enhance its implementation.
Niger State Governor Umaru Bago stressed the importance of micronutrient-rich foods, including locally produced fortified and biofortified products.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang acknowledged the complexity of multisectoral programming but reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthening evidence-based delivery systems.
Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal noted that while many challenges are rooted in longstanding issues, the region now has a real chance to reverse negative trends through bold investments in early childhood.
Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya expressed confidence in his state’s collaboration with the World Bank, while several other governors voiced similar support.
Collectively, the governors agreed that investing in the first 2,000 days of life is the single most strategic step toward achieving peace, productivity and economic strength in the northern region.
They reaffirmed their determination to champion a people-centered Early Years agenda that meets local needs and empowers frontline workers across their states.