Women leaders and experts have called for a national policy to professionalize caregiving during a media roundtable marking the International Day of Care and Support. They highlighted the undervalued role of care work in Nigeria's economy and its disproportionate burden on women. Investing in care systems could unlock economic growth and gender equality.
On October 29, to mark the International Day of Care and Support, a media roundtable in Nigeria focused on the theme “Unlocking Women’s Economic Power in Nigeria.” Thought women leaders and experts emphasized that caregiving, encompassing both paid and unpaid work, forms the foundation of society and the economy but remains one of the most undervalued sectors.
The discussions raised awareness about care as critical economic infrastructure, the poor working conditions of caregivers—including low pay, job insecurity, and limited legal protections—and the need for investment to empower women and drive national growth. According to the World Bank Gender Data Portal, Nigerian women spend up to five times more hours on unpaid care work than men daily. The International Labour Organisation estimates that 708 million women globally are excluded from the labour market due to such responsibilities. The Fraym ROI Study notes that Nigeria lacks a national framework for public childcare, making caregiving largely informal and family-based.
Experts pointed to women's dominance in the sector and how the absence of formal structures hinders their economic opportunities and well-being. They advocated centering care in Nigeria's economic agenda through national policies, worker protections, and investments in social infrastructure to boost productivity and gender equality.
Toyosi Etim-Effiong, founder of That Good Media, described care as the unseen backbone: “Care is the foundation of our society; a lot of us have taken care of grandparents, kids, and in Nigeria, some people bring others from the village.”
Amara Agbim, founder of The Nanny Academy, stressed: “Work-life integration is at the heart of caregiving. Care work is an essential social infrastructure. Without systems like daycare centres and care workshops for nannies and drivers, we cannot have a functional society. If unpaid care were monetised, it would represent nine to 13 per cent of global GDP.”
Adeola Alli, founder of OneHealth, added: “Care is that invisible system that allows women to work. When a woman is supported at home, she works.” She noted the global care economy could add $11 trillion yearly to GDP if valued properly.
Crystal Ikanih-Musa, a lawyer and global affairs expert, called for: “a push for a comprehensive care policy at the national level, as we have some at the state level.”