Nigeria Declares 2026 “Year of Families” with Launch of Families First Program

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has declared 2026 the “Year of Families and Social Development” and launched the Nigeria Families First program. The initiative aims to strengthen household incomes, provide parenting skills, expand access to housing, and create a professionalized care economy. Inspired by Türkiye’s family-focused policies, it seeks to address challenges from Nigeria’s rapid population growth, improve child welfare, and place families at the center of national development.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has officially designated 2026 as the “Year of Families and Social Development,” announcing on Friday a comprehensive set of measures aimed at placing families at the center of his government’s policy agenda. The initiative, named the Nigeria Families First program, is intended to strengthen household incomes, equip parents with essential skills for child-rearing, and expand access to decent and affordable housing. According to the presidency, the program reflects a broader strategy to reinforce social cohesion and promote national stability through family-centered policies.
“Societies that invest in family stability reduce vulnerability and long-term instability,” the presidential office stated, highlighting the importance of family as the foundation of a resilient society. President Tinubu emphasized that the program seeks to address both immediate and structural challenges facing families, ensuring that households have the resources, knowledge, and support needed to thrive in Nigeria’s rapidly growing economy and population.
The announcement follows President Tinubu’s visit to Türkiye in January, where Nigeria signed nine agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation. Among these agreements was a memorandum of understanding by the Ministry of Family and Social Services focused on implementing family and population policies in Nigeria. The policy approach mirrors that adopted by Türkiye, which in 2025 designated the “Year of the Family” under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. During that year, Türkiye rolled out a series of initiatives and projects designed to safeguard family welfare, strengthen parenting practices, and reinforce the family institution as a central pillar of social and economic development.
Nigeria, as Africa’s fastest-growing nation, currently has an estimated population of over 237 million people, according to the UN population agency, with a fertility rate averaging four children per woman. The Families First program is seen as a proactive measure to mitigate the pressures of rapid population growth on public services, infrastructure, and the environment. President Tinubu highlighted that the initiative is designed to tackle the “root causes” of many social and economic challenges, including poverty, unemployment, and limited access to basic social services.
The presidential statement also positioned Nigeria alongside a select group of nations, including Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, that have adopted family-centered policies as a cornerstone for sustainable national development. By prioritizing family welfare, the government aims to create a stronger, more resilient society in which households are supported and empowered to contribute effectively to the nation’s economic and social progress.
Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Ibrahim Sulaiman OIbrahim, described the initiative as a clear departure from “business as usual” in government approaches to social development. She stressed that the program will provide safety nets for children, enhance child-rearing practices, and create a professionalized care economy, which will not only support families but also generate employment and professional opportunities for caregivers.
The Families First program is designed to be holistic, integrating social, economic, and educational interventions to strengthen family units. It aims to ensure that families have access to the resources, knowledge, and institutional support necessary to raise healthy, well-educated children while maintaining economic stability. By prioritizing family welfare, the initiative seeks to reduce social vulnerabilities, foster long-term stability, and position the family as a central actor in Nigeria’s sustainable development efforts.
The program represents a strategic commitment by the Tinubu administration to address demographic challenges, enhance social protection, and reinforce the role of families in driving national growth. Through coordinated policies and targeted interventions, the initiative aims to empower households across Nigeria, improve the wellbeing of children, and ensure that families remain at the core of the country’s social and economic development agenda.