The National Council for Women Affairs, Child Advancement and Social Development has commenced its 2026 national summit in Jalingo.
Declearing the Pre -Summit Technical Session Open on Monday, Hajia Imaan Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development said that the theme for the 2026C summit “Strengthening Families and Advancing the Care Economy for Inclusive Development was apt.
Represented by Mrs Esuabana Asanye, Parmanent Secretary of the ministry, the minister said that the the theme was strategic and timely.
“This theme is both timely and strategic. It recognises that strong families are the bedrock of stable societies, productive economies and sustainable national development.
“It also draws attention to the critical role of the care economy, both paid and unpaid, in supporting households, improving human development outcomes and driving inclusive economic growth.
“For too long, care work has remained largely invisible despite its enormous contribution to national development. Women and girls continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of unpaid care responsibilities, often limiting their opportunities for education, employment, entrepreneurship and leadership.
“Advancing the care economy therefore requires deliberate investments in plans, policies, infrastructure and services that recognise, reduce, redistribute and reward care work while creating decent employment opportunities within the Care Sector Economy.
“Equally important is the need to strengthen Nigeria’s social protection architecture to ensure that vulnerable households are better protected against poverty, economic shocks, displacement, disasters and other social risks.
“An effective social protection system is fundamental in building resilience, promoting equity and ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind in our developmental efforts”, she said.
The minister also told participants that the Pre-summit represented the intellectual foundation of the council, assuring that during the next few days, memoranda submitted by the ministries, departments, and agencies at the national, sub-national and third tier of government and relevant stakeholders would be carefully analysed.
She esplained that some of the memoranda would be accepted or stepped down for collective development within the national space.
According to Imaan, the recommendations that would emerge from these deliberations would shape future plans, policies, projects, and programmes in our future aspirations.
“The 26th summit comes at a defining moment in our national trajectory to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of 2030, the Africa Union Agenda 2063, ECOWAS VISION 2050, Medium Term National Development, Plan (MTNDP) 2026-2030 which aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda and Nigeria Agenda 2050.
“The Federal Government, under the visionary leadership of President Bola Tinubu is implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda with a strong emphasis on inclusive growth, human capital development, poverty reduction and social protection.
“The Ministry is committed to translating these national priorities into measurable outcomes through Plans, Policies, Project and Programmes that will empower women, strengthen families, protect children and promote social inclusion,’ she added.
In his remarks, Gov. Agbu Kefas of Taraba appreciated the council for choosing Taraba to host the summit.
Represented by Mrs Mary Sinjen, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, Kefas said that the people of Taraba were deeply honoured that the state was hosting such an important national gathering.
“Your presence here is a testament to our shared commitment to advancing the welfare, empowerment, protection, and development of women, children, and vulnerable persons across Nigeria.
“I encourage us to use this Council as an opportunity to exchange ideas, share experiences, strengthen partnerships, and develop practical solutions that will translate into meaningful impact in our communities.
“Once again, it is my great pleasure and honour, on behalf of the Government and good people of Taraba, to warmly welcome distinguished delegates, Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, representatives of the federal ministry, development partners, and other stakeholders to Taraba,” he said.
