Caring Africa Calls for National Implementation of Care Policy Across Nigeria

Caring Africa, a non-profit organization focused on child and elderly care, has called on the Nigerian government to implement the National Care Policy across the country. According to a statement released by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the National Care Policy recognizes unpaid care work, promotes regulated childcare and elderly care services, sets minimum standards for care centres and provides for a National Care Fund. The policy is aimed at addressing the challenges of unpaid care work, which is often undertaken by women and girls, and promoting a more equitable distribution of care responsibilities. While the policy has already been implemented in some states, Caring Africa is urging the federal government to ensure that it is implemented nationwide. The organization argues that this will not only improve the welfare of caregivers but also boost the economy by freeing up more women to participate in the labour force. According to Premium Times Nigeria, the implementation of the policy will also provide a much-needed boost to the childcare and elderly care sectors, which are currently underdeveloped in many parts of the country.