UNICEF Calls for Increased Funding for Early Childhood Education in North-West Nigeria

UNICEF has urged for a significant increase in budgetary allocations toward Early Childhood Care, Development, and Education (ECCDE) in the North-West region of Nigeria. This appeal was made during a two-day workshop on Evidence Advocacy and Policy Dialogue held in Kano, which focused on securing additional funding for ECCDE programs in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states.

Speaking at the event, Rahama Farah, UNICEF’s Chief Field Officer in Kano, emphasized the critical importance of early childhood care and education, noting that it plays a pivotal role in children’s brain development. "Quality early childhood education lays the foundation for good health, nutrition, academic success, and economic productivity," Farah said. Despite these benefits, he lamented the fact that the sector receives minimal attention in terms of policy prioritization and government funding.

Farah explained that investing in early childhood education yields the highest return on investment across all educational sub-sectors. However, he pointed out that ECCDE consistently receives the smallest share of government expenditure compared to primary and secondary education. This lack of funding, according to Farah, limits the future potential of children by denying them the necessary support for cognitive and social-emotional development during their formative years.

UNICEF Education Specialist Yetunde Oluwatosin also expressed concern over the alarming number of children in the North-West who lack access to quality early childhood education. She stressed that early childhood is a crucial period for any country’s development. "Investing in this stage of life enhances economic outcomes and contributes to a child's overall transformation," Oluwatosin said.

Both Farah and Oluwatosin called on state governments in the North-West to prioritize ECCDE in their budgetary plans, ensuring that every child has access to the resources needed to reach their full potential.

UNICEF remains committed to advocating for policies that enhance the development and education of young children, especially in underfunded regions.