- Lagos Stakeholders Push Comprehensive Care Policy to Support Families, Workforce
- Participants examined how childcare, elder care, disability support and caregiving responsibilities
- The discussions at the forum focused on several priority areas for policy development
Leaders from government, the private sector, development institutions, academia and civil society gathered in Lagos for the Lagos State Care Policy Stakeholder Forum, a major meeting focused on developing a comprehensive care policy framework for the state.
Eko Hot Blog reports on the forum, organised by Caring Africa in partnership with the Nigeria Care Coalition, brought together stakeholders to address the increasing demand for organised care systems in Nigeria’s economic hub.
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Participants examined how childcare, elder care, disability support and caregiving responsibilities are affecting workforce participation and family wellbeing across the state. With Lagos’ population and labour market continuing to expand, stakeholders stressed the need for policies that recognise care as an essential part of social and economic development.
Speaking at the gathering, the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development highlighted the importance of building strong care systems that support families while strengthening the economy.
According to the commissioner, care services remain fundamental to community wellbeing and workforce productivity.
He noted that as Lagos continues to grow, public policies must reflect the everyday realities faced by families, adding that strengthening care systems would support children, elderly citizens and persons living with disabilities while also enabling more parents, especially women, to participate actively in the workforce.
The discussions at the forum focused on several priority areas for policy development. These included improving childcare systems and regulatory standards, building structured elder care support, expanding services for persons with disabilities, professionalising the care workforce and encouraging family friendly workplace policies among employers.
Stakeholders also examined the need to develop clear governance and regulatory frameworks to guide the delivery of care services across the state.
Founder and Chief Care Officer of Caring Africa, Blessing Adesiyan, said the conversation around care must move beyond informal family responsibility to become a recognised economic structure.
She explained that care work has long been treated as a private family obligation, even though it plays a crucial role in enabling economic productivity.
Adesiyan stressed that if Lagos is to remain competitive and inclusive, there must be deliberate investment in structured care systems that support families, protect care workers and promote women’s participation in the labour market.
Data shared during the forum highlighted the broader economic value of care systems, particularly in improving early childhood development outcomes and supporting women’s participation in the workforce.
Participants expressed strong support for accelerating the drafting of the Lagos State Care Policy, which aims to establish a coordinated framework for childcare, elder care, disability support and workforce development within the care sector.
The initiative also aligns with wider national conversations on strengthening family support structures as Nigeria prepares for 2026, which has been designated the Year of Social Development and Families.
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