The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development (FMWASD), Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, has approved the resuscitation of the Ministry’s crèche, leading to the inauguration of a high-powered committee to actualize the project.
The Dr. Victoria Gowon National Workplace Nursery (Crèche), located at Asokoro near the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters, is being revived to promote early childhood care and development, support working parents, and advance family-friendly policies within the public service.
Inaugurating the committee, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Nko Asanye Esuabana, represented by the Director of Legal Services, Mrs. Sweet Ogundaye, said the establishment of the workplace nursery was in line with the Ministry’s mandate. She explained that the crèche is intended to serve as a modern national workplace nursery, combining quality childcare with operational efficiency.
She described the committee as critical to the success and sustainability of the initiative, noting that members were tasked with conducting a needs assessment of staff with children between the ages of 0 and 3 years, working out modalities for efficient operations, and identifying staff to be deployed to the nursery. The committee is also expected to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) covering security, health, safety, admission, and emergency protocols; propose a sustainable management model; identify partnership opportunities with stakeholders; and determine the number of children to be admitted per session.
The Permanent Secretary directed the committee to complete its work and submit a comprehensive report with actionable recommendations within four weeks.
In his welcome remarks, the Director of the Child Development Department and Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Ali Andrew Madugu, commended the Minister and Permanent Secretary for their foresight. He said the initiative reflects the Ministry’s continued commitment to the welfare and holistic development of young children, as well as support for working parents. According to him, reactivating the crèche will provide a safe, nurturing, and child-friendly environment that aligns with best practices in early childhood care and development.
Madugu congratulated members of the committee on their appointment and urged them to discharge their responsibilities with dedication, professionalism, and a strong sense of purpose.
A press release signed by Ahmed Lawan Danbazau, Head of Press and Public Relations at FMWASD, confirmed that members of the committee were drawn from various departments and units within the Ministry. Deputy Director of the Child Development Department, Mrs. Mariam Shaibu Fitumi, was named as Secretary of the committee.
This move marks a renewed effort by the Ministry to strengthen family-friendly workplace policies and provide institutional support for working parents in Nigeria’s public service.
By Palma Ileye, Abuja
