Nigeria unveils family-centered policies at global forum
Women Affairs Minister introduces national caregiving, child welfare programs and urges global action on family protection
ABUJA, Nigeria (MNTV) — Nigeria has announced a series of comprehensive family-centered policies aimed at strengthening caregiving systems and promoting social stability, during the ministerial session of the International Family Forum (IFF), which brought together delegates from 26 countries.
Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, outlined Nigeria’s new initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including the National Framework for Family Cohesion and the National Family Strengthening and Development Programme.
“These initiatives reflect Nigeria’s proactive measures to reinforce the foundational role of families in our national development narrative,” the minister said, emphasizing that family cohesion remains central to national stability and inclusive growth.
Nigeria’s approach, she noted, draws from both cultural and religious values that prioritize the sanctity of the family, alongside pragmatic policy planning.
A key announcement was the rollout of the National Guidelines for Alternative Care for Children, developed to provide regulated, appropriate care for orphaned and vulnerable children.
This complements Nigeria’s National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children, aimed at strengthening protections for minors across the country.
“Our aim is to reposition the care economy by strengthening caregiving systems, particularly for the most vulnerable in our society,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim said.
In her address, the minister proposed the adoption of a Joint Declaration on Families, calling for its presentation at global platforms such as the United Nations.
She urged international partners to establish sustainable funding mechanisms for family-focused social protection and to embed family well-being into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) framework.
“Nigeria stands ready to champion a unified global call for family-centered governance,” she concluded, asserting that investing in family policies is a strategic move toward achieving long-term national and global development objectives.
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