According to a statement released on Thursday in Abuja by her Special Adviser on Media & Publicity, Mr. Jonathan Eze, the Minister emphasized that Nigeria’s family-first approach is a core component of the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as an unprecedented policy shift that reflects the nation’s commitment to building resilient societies through family strengthening.
Speaking at the forum, held in commemoration of the 2025 United Nations International Day of Families, themed “Family-Oriented Policies for Sustainable Development: Towards the Second World Summit for Social Development”, Sulaiman-Ibrahim highlighted the pressing challenges confronting families globally — including urbanization, digital exposure, economic hardship, migration, population explosion, humanitarian crises, pandemics, and shifting societal values.
She stated: “These evolving realities compel governments, including Nigeria’s, to collectively invest in protective and transformative family-oriented policies.”
To this end, the Minister outlined key initiatives being undertaken by the Nigerian government to support family cohesion:
- The National Framework for Family Cohesion, designed to address global family challenges by integrating comprehensive, family-centered interventions.
- The National Family Strengthening and Development Programme (NFSP), a grassroots-driven model to tackle poverty, domestic violence, and social disruption.
- The Committee for Family Cohesion, established to reinforce implementation and coordination of national family policies.
- The Nigerian for Women Programme, aimed at enhancing women’s protection and strengthening their roles within families and communities.
In a landmark announcement that drew applause from delegates, Sulaiman-Ibrahim unveiled the National Guidelines for Alternative Care for Children, a new framework that ensures vulnerable children receive safe, appropriate, and family-like care. This complements Nigeria’s National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children, recently launched to bolster child protection mechanisms.
“Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I urge you to not only reflect on these challenges but to explore the opportunities they offer — to co-create solutions that safeguard and empower families in this interconnected world,” she said.
The Minister stressed that globalization must not erode family values, but should instead serve as a platform for promoting inclusive, adaptable, and culturally respectful models that reinforce the sanctity of the family unit.
Concluding her address, Hajiya Imaan reaffirmed Nigeria’s willingness to collaborate with fellow nations to develop a global framework for promoting family resilience and pledged Nigeria’s support for a Joint Declaration on Safeguarding and Strengthening Families. She also endorsed the presentation of this declaration at multilateral platforms, including the United Nations, as a unified call for family-centred governance.
“We call on all multilateral institutions to increase investments in family policies, establish funding for family-centred social protection, and mainstream family well-being into the global development agenda. Strengthening families is key to achieving our collective goals,” she concluded.