The World Bank has described Nigeria’s early childhood development situation as a crisis, warning that persistent gaps in health, nutrition, and learning are eroding the country’s long-term economic potential.
The warning is contained in the institution’s April 2026 Nigeria Development Update (NDU), titled “Nigeria’s Tomorrow Must Start Today: The Case for Early Childhood Development,” which notes that early childhood, particularly from pregnancy to age five is critical, and that investments during this period generate lasting benefits including better education outcomes, higher earnings, lower health costs, and stronger social cohesion.
Speaking at the report’s launch in Abuja, Mathew Verghis, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, said approximately 110 out of every 1,000 Nigerian children die before the age of five, roughly 40 percent are stunted, and more than half are not developmentally on track before entering school.
“These numbers, for a country like Nigeria’s aspirations, should be treated as a crisis,” Verghis said.
According to The Cable, The bank said the outcomes are driven by persistent gaps in maternal health, nutrition, early learning, and access to water and sanitation, particularly during the first 2,000 days of a child’s life. Despite recent reforms, outcomes remain “weak and highly unequal,” with sharp disparities across income groups, regions, and states.
According to the report, stunting rates are more than three times higher among children from poor households than among wealthier ones, while development gaps between rich and poor households exceed 40 percentage points.
Geographic inequality is also pronounced, with some southern states recording under-five stunting rates below 15 percent, compared to over 60 percent in parts of northern Nigeria.
The World Bank did not limit its assessment to child welfare alone. It said the disparities begin early and persist into adulthood, shaping labour market outcomes and limiting income mobility.
Verghis stressed that investments in early childhood development can yield annual returns of seven to 13 percent through improved education, higher earnings, and reduced healthcare costs.
The report called for an integrated approach bringing together nutrition, health, responsive caregiving, early learning, and children’s living environments into a coherent and continuous package of support, covering the period from pregnancy to age five.
The World Bank said it is working with the National Economic Council and state governments to develop a comprehensive national programme on early childhood development.
