Osun State Unveils the First Multi-Sectoral Early Childhood Development (ECD) Strategy; Advocates for National Adoption
In a major step towards promoting the thriving and not just the survival of every child, the Osun State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Project, successfully hosted the public presentation and official launch of the Osun State Early Childhood Development Strategy on Monday, 25th August 2025, at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Health, Osogbo.
The public presentation brought together stakeholders, health professionals, policymakers in Osun State, and representatives of international development agencies and the project funders.
The Osun State Early Childhood Development Strategy is the first of its kind in the nation, aimed at addressing early detection of developmental delays and disabilities among children in the State. The State Ministry of Health partnered with the Early Childhood Development Project, a partnership between Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex and the UK Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
This partnership is one of the Nigerian Health Partnerships under the Global Health Workforce Programme funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care with the funds managed by Global Health Partnerships, UK and Ducit Blue Solutions as the Local Grant manager in Nigeria.
This great outcome of the strategy lends credence to the united efforts of the multi-sectoral Early Childhood Development Technical Working Group coordinated by the State Ministry of Health and in collaboration with other relevant ministries. The strategy also received inputs and technical support from international partners to align it with global directions for Early Childhood Development.
In a remark by the Honourable State Commissioner for Health, Jola Akintola, assured that the project will be formally adopted by the State and also presented to the National Council on Health. He added that the ECD project is accepted by the government, in tandem with the provision of the Quality Healthcare Action Plan mantra of Governor Ademola Adeleke, adding that Osun State is glad to be used as the pilot State for the Early Childhood Development Strategy.
The Commissioner commended the main founder, the Early Childhood Development Project team, the project funders and partners such as WHO, UNICEF, who worked with the Technical working group.
In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Adekunle Isiaka noted that pivotal work had already been done on the Early Childhood Development in the State, through this pilot in Ife Central Local Government Area.
He assured that the project will be extended to all parts of the state in no distant time, calling on all the development partners to support the State Government in this task.
In their goodwill messages, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Social Welfare -Mrs Abimbola Babatunde, WHO representative – Dr Basiru Fatoki, UNICEF representative – Pharmacist Israel Olasunkanmi and State Ministry of Education representative- Mrs Adeluyi, that investment in early childhood development promotes the survival of the child.
Dr. Oluwatosin Olorunmoteni, Team Lead of the Early Childhood Development Project, highlights the importance of ECD interventions in fostering early child development, stressing that they are cost-effective and crucial for every child’s growth, regardless of birth circumstances. The ECD strategy aims to ensure access to development services for children aged 0-8, promoting holistic development and addressing issues like malnutrition, violence, and exploitation.
The ECD strategy has a clear vision and mission that provides a framework for ECD services, focusing on the nurturing care framework and support for young children’s brain development. It is guided by principles that emphasise responsive care giving, early learning, and encourage the early identification and provision of early intervention as well as inclusive opportunities for the children with delays in development or disabilities.
The strategy’s implementation pillars include integrating psychosocial interventions, supporting maternal mental health, and promoting early learning. A key aspect of the strategy is its plan for monitoring and evaluation, which will track progress, ensure accountability, and facilitate learning from experiences.
Dr. Olorunmoteni emphasises that investing in ECD yields long-term benefits, including positive outcomes in academic performance, health, and societal contributions. ECD interventions can help break cycles of poverty, crime, and social inequality, and empower communities. She stresses that the ECD plans go further than child survival, supporting children to develop to their full potential, and emphasises the need for the public sector health system to implement the early childhood development strategy.
She stresses that the ECD strategy is multisectoral, cutting across health, education, and social welfare sectors, such that the children will be well attended to in hospitals by a qualified and well-trained team, and that when they go to school, they won’t be rejected or be stigmatised.
Dr. Olorunmoteni commends the consultant, Prof Adesegun Fatusi, for his tenacity in facilitating the development of the strategy and calls on the government at all levels to support such plans in the interest of all children, whom she describes as the future of the country. She says, “Osun State is taking a lead by presenting publicly the [first] multisectoral early childhood development strategy in any State of the country. It is important to note that the world has moved from just emphasising survival, that children should not just survive, but thrive,” she added.
Also, the Special Adviser to Osun State Governor on Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Bosun Awoyemi, suggested that the project should be adopted by all the states of the federation, while the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Development Board SPHCDB, Dr. Oluwole Fabiyi, reiterated the readiness of the Primary Healthcare Board to support and implement the Early Childhood Development strategy in all the PHCs within Osun State Local Governments.
Development Partners to this strategy include WHO and UNICEF, alongside major stakeholders such as the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, UK Partnerships, the Bureau of Persons with Disabilities, the Muslim and Christian Communities and the funders: the Global Health Partnerships and the UK Department of Health and Social Care, with Ducit Blue Solutions, which is the Local Grant manager in Nigeria.
E-signed:
Osun State Ministry of Health and Early Childhood Development Strategy Project