The Federal Government has reiterated its resolve to strengthen Early Childhood Care and Development Education (ECCDE), describing it as the bedrock of quality basic education and sustainable national development.
The assurance was given on Monday by the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, at the Annual Integrated ECCDE Consultative Committee Meeting held in Abuja. The meeting, organised by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), brought together key stakeholders from across the education sector.
According to UBEC data, more than seven million children are currently enrolled in ECCDE programmes across the country.
Speaking through the Director of Basic Education in the Ministry, Dr. Folake Olatunji David, the Minister described ECCDE as essential to children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. He noted that government interventions in the sector are guided by the National Policy on Education and the National ECCDE Policy.
Alausa said the consultative meeting was timely, as it provided an opportunity to review the 2025 ECCDE implementation report, evaluate progress recorded by states, and address lingering challenges such as funding gaps, workforce capacity, coordination issues, learning environment standards, and weak monitoring systems.
He explained that the forum aligns with the Ministry’s priorities of improving learning outcomes, strengthening accountability, encouraging data-driven planning, and ensuring safe, inclusive learning environments. He also emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among the Federal Ministry of Education, UBEC, State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), State Ministries of Education, and other relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
As preparations commence for the 2026 implementation cycle, the Minister urged stakeholders to convert lessons learned in 2025 into concrete actions, realistic targets, and measurable indicators capable of improving ECCDE delivery nationwide. He commended UBEC, state ECCDE desk officers, development partners, and other stakeholders for their continued support, expressing confidence that the outcomes of the meeting would significantly enhance ECCDE implementation in Nigeria.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Hajia Aisha Garba, stressed the need to strengthen ECCDE through effective policies, partnerships, and robust implementation frameworks. Represented by her Special Assistant, Ibrahim Gold, she described the consultative meeting as long overdue and said it was convened to review the 2025 implementation report, identify gaps, and propose practical solutions for improved delivery in 2026.
She disclosed that the proposed ECCDE Implementation Guidelines would promote coherence in applying ECCDE policies and minimum standards, enhance resource utilisation, and provide costed operational plans for effective service delivery. According to her, the guidelines would also strengthen collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, UNICEF, and other stakeholders, while aligning Nigeria’s ECCDE framework with global best practices.
Hajia Garba noted that the document, when completed, is expected to improve the use of the pre-primary education curriculum, encourage parental and community involvement, and deepen partnerships in early childhood education. She emphasised that ECCDE plays a critical role in laying a strong foundation for lifelong learning, cognitive development, and social and emotional growth.
She expressed optimism that persistent challenges, including micronutrient deficiencies affecting millions of children under the age of five, would be addressed through effective implementation of the guidelines. The document, she added, would prioritise micronutrient deficiency control—particularly iron, vitamin A, and iodine—and guide stakeholders on supplementation strategies, nutrition education, and community-based management of acute malnutrition in schools.
She further outlined the objectives of the meeting to include progress review, sharing of best practices, partnership strengthening, and the development of a clear roadmap for the National ECCDE Implementation Guidelines. These efforts, she said, would contribute to reduced child mortality and morbidity, improved learning outcomes, increased school enrolment, and enhanced productivity and economic growth.
The UBEC boss expressed confidence that the expertise and dedication of the selected resource persons and SUBEB ECCDE Desk Officers would ensure the successful development of the document, ultimately guaranteeing Nigerian children access to quality early childhood education.
