The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim, has approved the revival of the Ministry’s crèche, setting in motion the establishment of a high-powered committee to ensure the project’s successful implementation.
The committee has been tasked with planning and coordinating the reopening of the Dr Victoria Gowon National Workplace Nursery (Crèche), located at Asokoro near the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters.
Inaugurating the committee, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Asanye Esuabana, represented by the Director of Legal Services, Mrs Sweet Ogundaye, said the initiative aligns with the Ministry’s mandate “to promote early childhood care and development, support working parents, and advance family-friendly policies within the public service.”
She added that the nursery is “intended to serve as a modern national workplace crèche, combining quality childcare with operational efficiency.”
The Permanent Secretary outlined the committee’s key responsibilities, which include:
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Conducting a needs assessment for staff with children aged 0 to 3 years.
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Designing efficient and effective operational modalities for the nursery.
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Identifying staff to be deployed to the crèche.
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Developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) covering security, health, safety, admissions, and emergency protocols.
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Proposing a sustainable, enterprise-driven management model to ensure efficiency, affordability, and quality service delivery.
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Exploring partnerships with relevant stakeholders.
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Determining the number of children to be admitted per session.
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Mrs Esuabana directed the committee to complete its work and submit a detailed report with actionable recommendations within four weeks.
Earlier, in his welcome remarks, the Director of the Child Development Department and committee chairman, Mr Ali Andrew Madugu, praised the Minister and Permanent Secretary, saying the initiative “reflects the Ministry’s continued commitment to the welfare, care, and holistic development of young children, as well as support for working parents within the Ministry.”
He added that reactivating the crèche “will no doubt provide a safe, nurturing, and child-friendly environment that aligns with best practices in Early Childhood Care and Development.”
Mr Madugu congratulated the committee members on their appointments, urging them to perform their duties with dedication, professionalism, and a strong sense of purpose.
The committee comprises representatives from various departments within the Ministry, with Deputy Director of the Child Development Department, Mrs Mariam Fitumi, serving as Secretary.
