Nigeria has entered into a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Türkiye on family cohesion and social welfare, a move aimed at strengthening the country’s care sector and embedding it more firmly within national development planning.
The agreement, the ninth signed during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s official State Visit to Ankara, places the Care Economy at the heart of efforts to reinforce family systems under the Renewed Hope Agenda, recognising caregiving as a vital contributor to social and economic stability.
Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Iman Suleiman-Ibrahim, signed the MoU on behalf of the Federal Government, while Türkiye was represented by its Minister of Family and Social Services, Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş.
Officials disclosed that the agreement was the outcome of sustained engagement between both countries over the past year and is intended to deepen cooperation in social development through clearly defined frameworks and shared expertise.
A central focus of the MoU is the development of Nigeria’s first National Action Plan on Families, scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, with the Care Economy designated as a core component. The plan seeks to formally recognise and support unpaid caregiving responsibilities traditionally carried by women and families.
By institutionalising care work, the partnership aims to reduce pressures associated with c
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Speaking on the partnership, Minister Suleiman-Ibrahim reaffirmed her Ministry’s commitment to swift and results-driven implementation, stressing the importance of working “faster and smarter” to deliver tangible outcomes. She added that the Ministry is targeting a positive social welfare impact on at least 50 million Nigerians by 2030.
The MoU is also expected to advance women’s entrepreneurship and socio-economic empowerment through mentoring schemes and solidarity networks for women caregivers. By professionalising care services, the agreement opens opportunities for job creation in caregiving, mentoring and women-led enterprises nationwide.
Child protection features prominently in the collaboration, with provisions for the development of comprehensive protection systems and early-response mechanisms to curb neglect and abuse. Through expert exchanges and the adoption of best practices from Türkiye, Nigeria aims to strengthen prevention strategies and improve coordination within existing welfare programmes.
Inclusion of persons with disabilities and the promotion of “active ageing” for senior citizens are also key elements of the agreement, designed to encourage social participation, community engagement and equitable access to support services for vulnerable populations.
Implementation will be coordinated by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, covering policies on family cohesion, women’s empowerment, child protection and social inclusion. Expert exchanges between both countries are expected to commence immediately, focusing on capacity building and policy alignment rather than direct financial assistance.
Describing the agreement as value-driven, Minister Suleiman-Ibrahim said: “This MoU is a sacred pact to prioritise the family as the engine of national prosperity.”
Stakeholders have welcomed the Nigeria–Türkiye partnership, describing it as a timely and strategic intervention capable of strengthening institutional capacity, improving welfare delivery and repositioning caregiving as a recognised pillar of social stability.
They expressed confidence that effective implementation would ease family pressures, enhance protection for care workers and vulnerable groups, and further advance the Renewed Hope Agenda’s vision of inclusive, people-centred development across Nigeria.
