Abuja: The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), in partnership with UN Women, has initiated measures to strengthen childcare licensing, regulation, and service delivery in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Mandate Secretary of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, announced this development during a training session for secretariat officials and other social workers on childcare services held in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the training included participants from various key stakeholders in the child welfare sector, such as government representatives, childcare service providers, and international partners. Dr. Benjamins-Laniyi emphasized the objective of enhancing the workers’ capacity to elevate the standards of operations within the FCT’s childcare ecosystem. The training aimed to review existing structures, identify gaps in the childcare framework, and propose sustainable solutions to improve childcare services.
The initiative, organized in co
llaboration with UN Women and Caring Africa, sought to adopt global best practices for standardized childcare services in the Territory. Dr. Benjamins-Laniyi highlighted the importance of direct interaction with experts in childcare services to train staff using standard modules for registering and administering childcare services within the regulatory framework overseeing orphanage homes in the FCT. She expressed confidence that these efforts would enhance capacity and refine service delivery approaches in the evolving childcare economy.
Mrs. Beatrice Eyong, UN Women’s Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, acknowledged the significant grassroots impact of childcare and its economic implications. Eyong praised Benjamins-Laniyi for her dedication and ongoing efforts to protect the rights of women and children in the FCT and beyond.
Mr. Idris Yahaya, Head of the Child Development Department in the secretariat, noted that the training would substantially improve the existing standards of operations rel
ated to childcare. Yahaya, a Deputy Director, indicated that this initiative would ultimately enhance childcare service delivery across the territory. He highlighted the comprehensive nature of childcare, encompassing health, environment, safety, cognitive development, education, and record-keeping, underscoring the importance of the training in standardizing and improving service delivery.
He revealed that 136 orphanages and homes had been licensed and were awaiting ministerial approval for crèche regulation, with the Development Control Department inspecting new crèche facilities.
Ms. Blessing Adesiyan, founder and CEO of Care Gap/Caring Africa, commended the Women Affairs Secretariat for revising the Guidelines for Operation of Orphanages in the FCT. Adesiyan stated that the training would facilitate effective implementation of the guidelines once approved, emphasizing the importance of promoting healthy development, emotional security, cognitive skills, and social interaction in childcare. She also high
lighted the need for a safe and clean environment, qualified caregivers, engaging activities, appropriate caregiver-child ratios, and parental involvement to foster effective communication between caregivers and parents.