UNICEF, Nigeria Discuss 2050 Child Development Plan

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Federal Government of Nigeria and other key partners have advanced discussions on a long-term child development framework.

They stated this in Abuja yesterday during the Child Foresight Analysis Roadmap Validation Exercise.

The event, anchored on the Anticipatory Governance and Foresight Capacity Programme of the Office of the Vice President, was in strategic partnership with the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE), and with support from UNICEF. The initiative is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to anticipate and respond to emerging risks and opportunities affecting children through foresight methodologies that support more adaptive, resilient and future-informed policymaking.

Speaking at the event, Chief of Planning and Monitoring, UNICEF Nigeria Country Office, Wayne Bacale, said the programme emerged from a request by the Nigerian government to support long-term planning for children.

According to him, “Early last year, the Office of the Vice President reached out to UNICEF to provide technical support on anticipatory governance and foresight capacity. We saw it as a very aspirational initiative focused on what the future of children in Nigeria could look like in 2050.”

He noted that with children making up more than half of Nigeria’s population, forward planning was essential.

“This is important because more than half of Nigeria’s population are children. Understanding possible future scenarios and identifying actions we can take today to improve outcomes in 2050 is critical,” he said.

Bacale further said the approach was intentionally inclusive, bringing children and young people into the conversation rather than relying solely on adult assumptions.

“We are not just designing solutions for children; we are listening directly to them. That is what makes this transformational. This is government-led, and our expectation is that the government takes full leadership while we provide technical assistance based on global experience in foresight and anticipatory governance,” he said.

On implementation, he confirmed that the programme was nationwide in scope, with consultations already held across regions.

Also speaking, Director-General of the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE) and National Early Warning Centre, noted that the initiative was designed to correct a long-standing gap in policymaking.

He said children and adolescents had been engaged since the previous year in shaping the roadmap.

“Too often, policies are drafted without including the younger people who will live with the consequences. This process ensures their perspectives, hopes and perceptions are built into decision-making.

“The most important outcome is to develop a roadmap that enables more generationally friendly policies. Even while working towards 2050, we are already applying their ideas to current programmes,” he said.

He added that the foresight initiative aligns with broader continental and global development frameworks, saying the process was designed for continuity rather than a one-off engagement.

“Nigeria 2050 is aligned with African Union and global development goals. It is about intergenerational equity and ensuring that the voices of younger people are embedded in governance.

“These young participants are not just attendees; they are emerging generational advocates. This is an ongoing engagement that will continue beyond today,” he added.

On his part, Special Assistant to the President on Special Duties in the Office of the Vice President, Mohammed Ahmed, said the exercise was moving from analysis to implementation.

He said the next stage would focus on identifying practical entry points across sectors through co-creation.

“For the past ten months, we have been conducting analysis and generating findings. Now we are entering a phase where we demonstrate the real value of anticipatory governance in practice.