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Moving Minds Alliance Urges World Leaders to Prioritise Early Childhood Development in Crisis Context at Summit for the Future
Moving Minds Alliance Urges World Leaders to Prioritise Early Childhood Development in Crisis Context at Summit for the Future
By: Michael Mike
As world leaders convene to reaffirm commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) , produce an inter-governmentally negotiated, action-oriented Pact for the Future and forge a new consensus on multilateral solutions at the ongoing Summit of the Future in New York, the Moving Minds Alliance (MMA) has urged for prioritization of early childhood development in emergencies (ECDiE) for refugee, displaced, and host community children aged 0-8 and their caregivers.
A statement on Sunday by Lola Ayanda, Network Communications Manager
Moving Minds Alliance – International Rescue Committee UK, said in 2023 alone, over 10 million children were displaced.
The statement quoted MMA Director, Tricia Young to have said: “While all children in low-resource settings can face immense obstacles to attaining their full potential, those displaced, especially in crisis and conflict zones, are at a higher risk of physical, developmental, mental, and emotional harm. Hence deliberate efforts must be made to address their holistic and nurturing care needs.”,.
According to the statement: Early childhood development programming in humanitarian contexts faces unique challenges due to its cross-sectoral nature, encompassing health, nutrition, education, WASH, and protection. This multifaceted approach often struggles to find a clear place within the typically siloed humanitarian system, resulting in peripheral implementation rather than integration into standard procedures.
It added that effective ECD programmes require coordination across five key domains of child development: stimulation, education, health, nutrition, and protection. This necessitates strong collaboration among all sectors and the inclusion of support for parents and caregivers to provide nurturing care.
Moving Minds Alliance (MMA) in its Position Paper therefore urged that the Future summit discussions should prioritise specific actions and commitments on for governments, funders and INGOs as follows:
Governments should develop Inclusive National ECDiE Policies by establishing and fund comprehensive policies that include refugee children and their host communities, with these policies prioritizing quality and gender-transformative services, ensuring that children in all their diversity have equal opportunities to thrive.
It posited that “by investing in integrated ECD programmes, governments can enhance social cohesion between displaced populations and host communities, reducing potential conflicts and contributing to national stability and security. By fostering a culture of equity, peaceful conflict resolution, non-violence, diversity, empathy, and positive relationships, we create enabling environments that support children’s optimal development. These nurturing conditions not only benefit the children themselves but also have far-reaching positive impacts on their families, communities, and countries.”
It added that donors, funders, and philanthropic organisations should invest in High-Impact ECDiE Interventions, meaning that donors should allocate at least 10% of humanitarian funding to ECDiE programmes, ensuring early, equitable, and quality investments that lay the foundation for long- term societal benefits, with this including supporting local ECD actors with cultural and community expertise and increasing unrestricted multi-year, flexible funding to local and refugee-led organisations supporting children in humanitarian and development settings.
It also stated that funders should prioritise direct funding to local, national, and community organisations, noting that these stakeholders understand their communities and have the on-the-ground knowledge and capability to implement culturally relevant and sustainable ECD programmes, which are crucial for addressing the needs of displaced and crisis-affected populations and host communities.
It advised that development and humanitarian partners should prioritize ECD in Crisis Response, stressing that humanitarian organisations must integrate holistic multisectoral ECD within their core programming, ensuring that children aged 0-8 and their caregivers receive comprehensive support, urging that this integration should span the health, protection, education, and nutrition sectors.
It also advised that there should be enhance accountability and effectiveness, which should be collecting and reporting data disaggregated by age, sex, and disability to identify gaps in service provision and ensure accountability, as the data-driven approach will inform the design and implementation of more effective programmes for young children in crisis contexts.
It also called for strengthening of capacity sharing and coordination, urging humanitarian actors to support successful local solutions rather than displace them, and that they should foster effective coordination and communication mechanisms that empower local actors, ensuring that ECD interventions are culturally appropriate and sustainable.
It said the implementation of these recommendations will not only advance progress towards multiple SDGs but contribute to building more resilient, peaceful, and prosperous societies, adding that: “As we approach the 2030 deadline for the SDGs, the integration of ECDiE into national and international development strategies represents a critical opportunity to “leave no one behind” and secure a brighter future for generations to come.
“By embracing the principles outlined in the Pact for the Future and prioritising integrated approaches like ECDiE, we can accelerate progress towards sustainable development, thereby creating a world where every child, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity to thrive and contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future.”
Moving Minds Alliance Urges World Leaders to Prioritise Early Childhood Development in Crisis Context at Summit for the Future
Nigeria@65: FG’s programmes improving welfare of Nigerians- NOA
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Wednesday said that the Federal Government’s programmes and policies under President Bola Tinubu-led administration were improving the welfare of Nigerians.
Mrs Adaline Patari, the State Director of NOA, Gombe State office, stated this shortly after a road show to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day anniversary in Gombe.
Patari said that programmes and policies of Tinubu-led administration had supported many Nigerians from the student’s loan to conditional cash transfer to support to small businesses amongst others.
She stated that the initiatives by the present administration had restored hope and put the country amongst serious countries pursuing better reforms to improve their economy while revamping infrastructure.
According to her, many undergraduates benefitting from the student’s loan scheme which has removed all financial hindrances impeding access to tertiary education now feel a sense of belonging.
She said that the programmes and policies of the Federal Government have benefitted many households and improved their welfare in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
“The reforms of the Federal Government are working and many persons are proud to be Nigerians and more persons are now trying to do the right things as Nigerians.
“People are beginning to see themselves as proud Nigerians and that confidence of being a Nigerian is being restored.
“Today, many Nigerians are benefitting from the programmes of the current administration, this means that the country is now working for them,” she said.
While acknowledging that there were still challenges that needed to be addressed, Patari said, at 65, we have made tremendous progress especially working together in peace and unity.
She urged Nigerians to continue to support Tinubu administration’s programmes towards building a better country that works for all Nigerians.
The state director said that with the necessary reforms being carried out and already yielding results in the economic, agriculture, security and other sectors, more Nigerians would be prouder to be Nigerians in the future.
“Today, the country is progressing and we are united; we are now prouder to be Nigerians and I can tell you that the labour of our heroes past, indeed is never in vain,” she added.
Commending the contributions of youths to national development, Patari urged them to have a positive mind-set towards Nigeria and to always express optimism of a better Nigeria for everyone.
Patari also lauded the renewed strength with which NOA under the Director General of the agency, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu was being driven.
She said that government’s policies and programmes were getting more supports from Nigerians because of the constant engagements of Nigerians by the NOA nationwide.
The event also featured sensitisation of residents on Federal Government’s policies, programmes and the need for the people to support the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda
Nigeria@65: FG’s programmes improving welfare of Nigerians- NOA
Nigeria, European Union hold inaugural Trade and Investment Dialogue
By: Michael Mike
Senior Government officials of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the European Union (EU) have today met in Abuja to assess the vibrant economic partnership between the two parties and chart a way forward.
The inaugural Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Trade and investment Dialogue (TID) was anchored by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, and Director of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security (DG TRADE), Ms Dora Correia,
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot,, welcomed the launch of the Dialogue, which they said underscored the growing importance attached to trade and investment in the EU-Nigeria partnership.
This Senior Officials’ meeting marks an important step in strengthening the trade and investment partnership between the EU and Nigeria, and provided opportunity for the officials to exchange views on areas of mutual interest; address potential challenges and explore opportunities for further collaboration.
Discussions focused on a range of issues, including trade and investment policy, cooperation on market access barriers and requirements, preferential trade and investment arrangements, investment, collaboration within the World Trade Organization (WTO), regulatory measures that could impact trade and investment, and the identification of trade and investment-related development cooperation areas.
Both sides expressed their interest to continue the Dialogue, with the second TID billed to take place in Brussels, Belgium, in 2026, on a date to be jointly decided.
Nigeria, European Union hold inaugural Trade and Investment Dialogue
FG Declares Wednesday, Oct. 1 Public Holiday to Marks 65th Independence Anniversary
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, 1st of October as a public holiday to commemorate Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
The Honourable Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated all Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora on this historic occasion.
Tunji-Ojo, in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, enjoined citizens to continue to uphold the patriotic spirit, unity, and resilience that have sustained the nation since independence in 1960.
He urged Nigerians to further keep faith in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which is anchored on national rebirth, economic transformation, and collective prosperity.
The Minister expressed confidence that, with the cooperation of all Nigerians, the country will continue to grow stronger in peace, progress, and development.
He wished Nigerians a happy and memorable 2025 Independence Day celebration.
FG Declares Wednesday, Oct. 1 Public Holiday to Marks 65th Independence Anniversary
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