As Nigeria marks the International Day of Families, the Federal Government has announced three sweeping initiatives designed to bolster family cohesion, shield vulnerable children, and fight poverty at the grassroots level. Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, revealed these plans in a statement issued by her media aide, Jonathan Eze, on Friday.
The initiatives, part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, are strategic responses to the mounting pressures Nigerian families face, especially in urban centers grappling with soaring living costs, insecurity, and fraying social bonds. The 2025 International Day of Families, themed “Family-oriented policies for sustainable development: Towards the second world summit for social development,” underscores the critical role of family-focused policies in sustainable growth.
Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim assured Nigerians of the government’s commitment: “We are pleased to announce the following strategic actions under the Renewed Hope Agenda for women, children, and family cohesion, where the President will soon launch a targeted outreach programme to inform the development of a national framework for family cohesion in Nigeria.”
This framework will be developed in collaboration with state governments, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, NGOs, development partners, and religious and traditional leaders to “strengthen urban resilience, support families, and rebuild community ties.”
The President will also unveil national guidelines for alternative care of children, ensuring that children outside their natural homes grow up “in love, dignity, and protection.” These guidelines complement the National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children.
Another flagship programme, the National Family Strengthening and Development Programme, aims to tackle poverty, domestic violence, fragile support systems, and sociocultural disruptions. Targeting over five million Nigerians initially, it will be community-driven and tailored to the unique needs of all 774 Local Government Areas.
The Minister further announced the inauguration of the committee tasked with developing the national framework for family cohesion. “Additionally, we are advancing the Nigerian for Women Programme Scale-Up, targeting 4.5 million women across the federation,” she added.
Concluding, Sulaiman-Ibrahim called on all sectors of society to unite in protecting and empowering Nigerian families, emphasizing that “families are not secondary but central.”
