Investing in Early Childhood Key to Nigeria’s $1tn Economy by 2050 – World Bank
Nigeria’s ambition to become a $1 trillion economy by 2050 may rely more on its youngest citizens than previously recognized. The World Bank has warned that productivity gaps forming before age five could have lasting effects on economic growth if early childhood development is neglected. Speaking at a high-level dialogue in Abuja organized by SBM Intelligence, Dr. Ritgak Tilley-Gyado, Lead of the Early Years Programme at the World Bank, emphasized that strategic investment in children aged 0–5 is critical for shaping the future workforce.
“Can Nigeria become a trillion-dollar economy by 2050 without deliberately investing in its youngest citizens?” Dr. Tilley-Gyado asked. She highlighted that discussions on macroeconomic reforms, infrastructure, and job creation often overlook the foundational role of early human capital. Gaps in learning, health, and skills that start before a child’s fifth birthday are difficult and costly to reverse later, potentially undermining long-term productivity.
Experts stressed that early childhood development is not merely a social welfare concern but an economic strategy. Comparing two children born with equal potential, Dr. Tilley-Gyado illustrated how differences in nutrition, safety, and caregiving can lead to diverging outcomes even before formal schooling begins. Poor coordination across ministries, weak policies, and fragmented programs can further reduce the effectiveness of early childhood interventions, she warned.
Citing global research, she and other speakers noted that every dollar spent in a child’s early years can yield up to $13 in long-term economic benefits through higher productivity, earnings, and reduced social costs. Ikemesit Effiong, Managing Partner at SBM Intelligence, stressed that Nigeria is losing critical productivity potential long before children enter school, highlighting alarming statistics: roughly 40% of Nigerian children under five are stunted, and neonatal mortality remains high despite overall under-five mortality declines.
Speakers called for a comprehensive, multisectoral national strategy that integrates health, nutrition, safety, responsive caregiving, and early learning. Dr. Joe Abah of DAI Global emphasized the need for strong political oversight, adequate financing, and coordinated implementation across government tiers to make early childhood development core economic infrastructure. Without urgent action, Nigeria risks missing the chance to turn its youthful population into a sustainable driver of prosperity.
source: punch