Key players across Nigeria’s culture, entertainment and child development sectors gathered in Lagos at the weekend for the launch of a coalition aimed at integrating the creative industry into early childhood development efforts.
The event, themed “When Entertainment Meets Early Childhood,” was held at Ogidi Studios, and marked the inauguration of the Creative Industries for Early Childhood Development Coalition. The initiative is spearheaded by the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) in partnership with the World Bank and Ogidi Studios.
The gathering brought together policymakers, filmmakers, entertainers, and child advocates to explore how culturally rooted content can positively influence early learning and reinforce family values.
Stakeholders emphasised the importance of early childhood development in strengthening Nigeria’s human capital base and long-term economic growth, noting that investment in the formative years could shape the country’s future workforce.
In her welcome address, Director-General of CBAAC, Aisha Adamu Augie, urged creatives to see children as a central audience in their storytelling and productions.
She noted that in African tradition, art and culture were inseparable from child-rearing, describing the early years particularly from birth to age five as the foundation of human development.
“Our ancestors never separated art from life or culture from child-rearing,” she said, stressing that culture remains a powerful vehicle for social transformation.
Keynote speaker and actress Fadakemi Olumide called for a revival of Africa’s traditional child-rearing systems while embracing digital innovation to enhance early learning experiences.
Among dignitaries present were Peter Piper of Tales by Moonlight, Hilda Dokubo, Anto Lecky, Cobhams Asuquo, Munachi Abii, Biodun Stephen and Charles Novia. Media personality Mimi Onalaja anchored the event.
Organisers said the coalition aims to mobilise stakeholders within Nigeria’s creative ecosystem to promote caregiving, early stimulation and culturally relevant content as national priorities. The initiative, they added, reflects a growing recognition that sustainable development must begin with intentional investment in children’s earliest years.
