The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has said that early childhood development should top agenda of women leaders for transformative impact on individuals and society.
Mrs Tinubu made the call at a high-level Forum of Women Leaders held in Bujumbura, Burundi, themed, “Investing in Early Childhood to Build Human Capital Throughout Life”.
A statement on the event was made available to newsmen in Abuja, by Busola Kukoyi, the Media Aide to the first lady
According to the first lady, focusing on early child education is important in shaping the life of any child for a better future and formidable society.
She added that early education can help to ensure a formidable future for an individual and the nation as a whole.
Mrs Tinubu who joined voices with other first ladies present at the meeting, said that the role of women in nurturing the child is an important one, especially at the early stage in life.
According to her, such a period is a time for strong determination of how a child would turn out in life.
“Over the years, research has shown that the early years, particularly from birth to age eight, are crucial for a child’s cognitive, physical, and emotional growth.
“These years lay the foundation for their future, impacting not just education but also their long-term social, economic, and emotional well-being.
Early childhood development also forms the cornerstone of sustainable development and national prosperity.
“As first ladies, we hold a unique position of influence, and with that comes the responsibility to shape policies that impact generations,” she said.
According to the statement, the President of the Republic of Burundi, Évariste Ndayishimiye at the opening ceremony, said that family remains an integral factor in child outcomes in life and urged both parents to take the task more seriously.
“We cannot develop ourselves or our children without our culture. We have everything needed to succeed in our culture. A good relationship between the couple is important in raising good children,” he said.
Other speakers at the forum including the First Ladies of Slovania, DR Congo, Gambia, Turkiye and representatives of the UN and UNICEF harped on school feeding as an incentive to encourage children to go to school at an early age especially in Africa.
They also spoke about enhancing peace in the region to make early child education as a means of a better future for the region.
NAN
