Tinubu’s ‘Year of Families’ Pledge Puts Social Policy Under the Spotlight

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has designated 2026 as the “Year of Families and Social Development”, promising a series of measures to place families at the heart of his government’s policies.

The Nigeria Families First program is meant to strengthen household incomes, provide parenting skills and expand access to decent housing, Tinubu said on Friday.

“Societies that invest in family stability reduce vulnerability and long term instability,” a statement by the presidency said.

The move comes after Tinubu’s visit to Turkiye in January, during which nine agreements were signed, including a memorandum of understanding by the Ministry of Family and Social Services on the implementation of family and population policies.

The initiative mirrors a similar family focused policy approach adopted in Turkiye, reflecting a broader emphasis on the family as a pillar of social and economic development. Turkiye designated 2025 as the “Year of the Family” following a decision by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with initiatives implemented throughout the year to protect and strengthen the family institution.

Nigeria is Africa’s fastest growing nation with a population estimated at over 237 million people, according to the UN population agency, with a fertility rate of four children per woman.

The new Families First program is seen as an effort to cope with the impact of the demographic surge on public services and the environment. Tinubu said it will address the “root causes” of challenges facing the country.

“With this initiative, Nigeria joins a select group of nations including Turkiye, United Arab Emirates and Egypt that have adopted family centred policies as a foundation for sustainable national development,” the statement from his office said.

Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Imaan Ibrahim Sulaiman Ibrahim said it was “no longer business as usual” under the new family agenda.

The program will seek to offer safety nets for Nigeria’s children, enhance child rearing and create a professionalised care economy.

SOURCE: MRA