‎Tinubu Launches Family-First Policy Direction, Names 2026 Year of Families- Ekohotblog

‎Tinubu Launches Family-First Policy Direction, Names 2026 Year of Families
‎Directed that all arms and levels of government treat 2026 as the Year of Families and Social Development,
‎‎The initiative also forms part of the administration’s broader Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions

‎President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially declared 2026 as the “Year of Families and Social Development,” placing the Nigerian family at the heart of the nation’s development, security and social stability strategy.

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Eko Hot Blog reports that the declaration was made at the State House in Abuja, where the President said strong and stable families are essential to reducing poverty, tackling insecurity and addressing deep-rooted social challenges across the country.

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‎Tinubu explained that the move aligns Nigeria with countries such as Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, which have adopted family-centred governance models as a foundation for sustainable national development.

‎“Strong families are a national security and development asset,” the President said. “Societies that invest in family stability reduce vulnerability and long-term instability.”

‎He directed that all arms and levels of government treat 2026 as the Year of Families and Social Development, stressing that ministries, departments and agencies must realign their policies, programmes and budgets to prioritise household welfare, social protection and family cohesion.

‎The declaration follows the President’s state visit to Türkiye in January, where Nigeria signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding on family cohesion and social welfare. Officials said the agreement would guide reforms in social services, child protection and community-based support systems.

‎Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, said the administration was moving beyond policy statements to concrete action, noting that “for social development, it is no longer business as usual.”

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‎At the centre of the new policy direction is the proposed Nigeria Families First Programme, which is expected to drive the implementation of family-focused interventions nationwide.

‎According to government officials, the programme will address economic pressures on households, improve child welfare and strengthen social stability through targeted initiatives. These include support for sustainable livelihoods, parenting education and skills training, expanded child-focused social protection, and better access to healthcare, housing and professional care services.

‎The initiative also forms part of the administration’s broader Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions, a nine-pillar framework aimed at improving outcomes for women and children. The framework is aligned with the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on gender equality and child welfare.

‎Government sources said the new approach is designed to ensure that policies in health, education, housing and employment are coordinated from the household level, rather than delivered through fragmented social programmes.

‎While policy analysts welcomed the declaration, they noted that its success would depend on effective coordination among federal, state and local governments, sustained funding, and strong monitoring and accountability mechanisms.

‎The Presidency said detailed implementation plans, partnerships and timelines would be unveiled in the coming months to ensure the 2026 designation translates into measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerian families.