Abuja, June 6, 2026 – Experts have raised concerns that Nigeria is failing to unlock significant economic benefits from Early Childhood Development (ECD), estimating potential returns of up to $13 for every $1 invested, largely due to inadequate funding and fragmented policy implementation.
The warning was issued on Friday during a press briefing organised in Abuja by Gatefield, a public strategy and media organisation.
Stakeholders at the event said the country’s low prioritisation of early childhood development is weakening long-term productivity and slowing human capital growth.
They emphasised that the first five years of life are critical for brain development, noting that this period involves rapid neural growth that shapes lifelong learning and cognitive capacity.
Despite this, they observed that Nigeria continues to invest below the level required to achieve strong outcomes in health, nutrition, and early education.
The experts cited global research showing that ECD is among the most cost-effective development investments, especially when interventions combine healthcare, nutrition, protection, and early learning.
However, they noted that spending in Nigeria remains insufficient and unevenly distributed, with weak coordination between education, health, and social protection sectors.
They further highlighted that fewer than 25 per cent of Nigerian children have access to early childhood education, with rural communities experiencing significantly lower coverage than urban areas.
According to them, the situation reflects a “geographical inequality,” where a child’s developmental outcomes are heavily influenced by location and socioeconomic background.
Data presented at the briefing showed that about 37 per cent of children under five in Nigeria are stunted, while rates in some northern states exceed 50 per cent, indicating deep nutritional disparities.
They also revealed that only about 43 per cent of births are officially registered, limiting access to essential early-life services.
Early childhood education enrolment remains below 25 per cent nationwide, further widening the rural–urban gap.
Stakeholders warned that insecurity, poverty, and weak public service delivery are worsening developmental outcomes, particularly in northern regions.
They also expressed concern over the country’s malnutrition burden, noting that around two million children suffer from severe acute malnutrition each year, while malnutrition contributes to nearly 45 per cent of deaths among children under five.
In addition, they cautioned that exposure to conflict, displacement, and poverty is increasing “toxic stress” in children, which can permanently affect brain development and reduce future learning and earning potential.
An Early Childhood Development specialist, Dr Megor Ikuenobe, stressed that early childhood represents the foundation of lifelong development.
She noted that what happens in the early years determines long-term health, education, and economic outcomes, urging policymakers to treat ECD as a national development priority rather than a welfare issue.
Health communications expert at Gatefield, Omei Bongos-Ikwue, also emphasised that investments in early childhood directly influence national productivity and economic growth.
She noted that a significant portion of brain development occurs before age five, with nutrition, stimulation, and caregiving playing a decisive role in shaping human capital.
A researcher at Gatefield, Hope Lekwa, called on the government to treat early childhood development as an urgent national priority, warning that continued neglect could undermine Nigeria’s demographic advantage.
The stakeholders urged full implementation of the World Health Organisation and World Bank Nurturing Care Framework, which focuses on good health, adequate nutrition, responsive caregiving, safety and security, and early learning.
They also recommended integrating community health workers into early learning systems, increasing budget allocations for ECD at state level, and strengthening public awareness campaigns for parents and caregivers.
They concluded that without coordinated and urgent investment, Nigeria risks deepening inequality and losing long-term economic potential across generations.