World Bank Calls for Greater Investment in Education for Displaced Children

The World Bank and education stakeholders have urged governments, private organisations and development partners to increase funding for the education, healthcare and nutrition of internally displaced children, warning that inadequate investment could weaken Nigeria's future workforce and economic growth. The appeal was made during a panel discussion at the Africa Social Impact Summit held in Lagos. The session focused on financing early childhood development in communities affected by conflict and humanitarian crises. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, Nigeria currently has about 3.7 million internally displaced persons, largely due to years of insurgency in the North-East. Representing the World Bank, Senior Social Development and Safeguards Specialist Zara Goni delivered remarks on behalf of Senior Health Specialist Dr. Ritgak Tiiley-Gyado. She stressed that children living in displacement camps and other crisis-affected areas should continue to have access to quality education and essential social services. She explained that research has consistently shown that investing in children during their early years leads to healthier lives, higher productivity and stronger economic outcomes in adulthood. According to her, early childhood development also plays a vital role in reducing poverty, improving public health and promoting long-term social stability. Drawing from experiences in humanitarian operations across the North-East, the World Bank highlighted the importance of ensuring that displaced children receive adequate education, healthcare and nutrition despite security challenges. It noted that protecting the welfare of vulnerable children remains essential to Nigeria's long-term development. The panel also featured experts from the education and development sectors, including representatives of the Nigeria Coalition on Early Childhood Development in Crisis, Sterling One Foundation and Plan International. National Coordinator of the Nigeria Coalition on Early Childhood Development in Crisis, Arome Agenyi, called on the Federal Government to allocate more resources to early childhood education, noting that the sector currently receives only about one per cent of the national education budget. He also appealed to private organisations and philanthropists to increase their support, warning that failure to invest in young children could have lasting consequences for the country's future. Similarly, Sterling One Foundation's Education Programmes Lead, Samuel Ajayi, advocated stronger partnerships between the public and private sectors to improve funding for early childhood education and ensure sustainable support for vulnerable children.