The Minister of State, Ministry of Price range and {Economic} Planning, Doris Uzoka-Anite, has introduced that, for the primary time in a era, Nigeria’s Nationwide Growth Plan (NDP) 2026–2030 is being developed with kids at its core.
The Minister disclosed that with the help of UNICEF, the Ministry has recorded vital milestones that improve its capability to plan, funds, and ship impactful outcomes for kids throughout the nation.
She made this recognized through the FGN/UNICEF annual companions assembly held in Abuja, at this time.
She additional revealed that, following the launch of the Vitamin 774 Initiative, the Federal Authorities has additionally launched a revised Nationwide Social Safety Coverage. The coverage offers a complete framework to scale back poverty, strengthen social security nets, and enhance public {financial} administration capability throughout all states.
In accordance with the Minister, the NDP 2026–2030 acknowledges that investing in kids isn’t merely a social obligation however a strategic {economic} precedence. She emphasised the Ministry’s dedication to completely integrating child-focused priorities into nationwide budgets, sectoral plans, and efficiency frameworks.
“We envision a Nigeria the place each youngster, no matter birthplace, has the chance to succeed in their full potential. We’re constructing a $1 trillion financial system pushed by the expertise and productiveness of all Nigerians, together with the youngest and most weak,” she said.
The UNICEF Consultant in Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed, reiterated the group’s dedication to prioritizing essentially the most weak populations. She emphasised the necessity to enhance effectivity in useful resource deployment, improve security and safety methods, and discourage unsustainable investments in nationwide methods.
She charged the youthful era saying they’ve the flexibility to drive change and form the long run as they’re additionally companions on this journey.
In her remarks, the Everlasting Secretary of the Ministry, Deborah Odoh, highlighted key achievements underneath the Vitamin and WASH Convergence Programme—a joint initiative of the Federal Authorities and UNICEF launched in 2025. The programme integrates diet, water, sanitation, and schooling interventions throughout 200 high-burden communities in 4 states.
She famous that preliminary findings point out a 15 p.c discount in open defecation charges and improved faculty attendance amongst women in focused communities.
Dr. Odoh additionally disclosed that the completion of the 2025 A number of Indicator Cluster Survey offers vital baseline information to information the implementation of the NDP 2026–2030, notably its child-focused targets, and to tell future useful resource allocation.
She assured stakeholders that the Ministry is addressing gaps within the nationwide information structure to allow extra exact, evidence-based policymaking. Regardless of present challenges, she mentioned the Renewed Hope Medium-Time period Nationwide Growth Plan 2026–2030 affords a strong framework aligning the actions of Ministries, Departments, and Businesses (MDAs) with the Sustainable Growth Objectives (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, with youngster welfare outcomes as key efficiency benchmarks.
Earlier, the Director of the Worldwide Cooperation Division, Samson Ebimaro, represented by Deputy Director Yakubu Abdullahi, reaffirmed the sturdy partnership between the Ministry and UNICEF. He famous that the collaboration is rooted in a shared dedication to the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of each Nigerian youngster.
He added that the assembly serves as a strategic platform to additional strengthen cooperation and deepen present partnerships between each establishments.