Category: South West

Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, has called for renewed investment in the care economy, describing care as the “foundation of national development” and a key driver of productivity and social inclusion.

Ogunlende said this while delivering a keynote address at the Creative Care Council’s “National Day of Care” event in Lagos, organised by Caring Africa, an advocacy initiative led by Blessing Adesiyan.

The gathering brought together policymakers, medical experts, creative industry leaders and social development advocates to advance conversations around formalising care work as a vital part of Nigeria’s economic and social infrastructure.

Speaking on the theme; “It Starts With Care,” the commissioner said care was not sentimental or secondary, but a structural necessity that supported families, workplaces and economies.

“Care is the foundation of our economy, the very infrastructure that supports our cities and national development. When families lack care, when aging parents receive no formal support, and when care work is informal and undervalued, the cost is huge. It shows up in lost productivity, gender inequality and wasted human potential.” Ogunlende said.

READ ALSO: Five apps that’ll get your life together before the year ends

He noted that through Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, the government had continued to provide services and protection for children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.

“We manage over 15 homes and institutions, including correctional and elderly care homes,” he said. “Just recently, we rescued a young lady who went missing from Lekki to Ikorodu. That’s part of what we do daily.”

Ogunlende said Lagos State’s THEMES Plus Agenda, which adds Social Inclusion, Gender Equality, and Youth Development to its core priorities, reflects the government’s commitment to embedding care in governance.

“Care is the new oil,” he said. “Not everyone will see its value immediately, but those who do and invest in it will reap its benefits. If we are serious about unlocking Nigeria’s full economic potential, we must invest in the care economy, one that works for every child, every caregiver, and every older adult.”

Founder of Caring Africa, Blessing Adesiyan, shared a deeply personal story that inspired her advocacy for the care economy.

Recounting how she cared for her late father in the United States, she described care work as “quiet labour” that sustained life but was often unpaid and undervalued.

“That day was one of quiet labour, the kind of work that doesn’t earn income or recognition, but is driven by love and responsibility. Before any worker leaves home, there’s someone who wakes a child, ties their shoelaces, and packs their lunch. Care runs the economy before the economy even wakes up.” Adesiyan recalled.

She emphasised that care work, parenting, nursing, cooking and caregiving, should be recognised as labour deserving of value and reward.

“If we want a truly prosperous Nigeria, we must acknowledge that care is not just personal, it’s a national priority. Childcare, paid leave, elder care, these are the building blocks of a nation that truly values its people,” she said.

Adesiyan called for public and private sector partnerships to build systems that make care affordable, accessible, and dignified. She also challenged the misconception that caregiving is “women’s work.”

“Care is not a woman’s job. It is the work that makes every other kind of work possible,” she said. “If we can care for our people, we can care for our progress.”

A consultant paediatrician and member of the Creative Care Council, Dr. Ayodele Renner, highlighted the health risks caregivers face, particularly women who shoulder the bulk of care responsibilities in Nigerian homes.

“Women bear the disproportionate burden of care. In the short term, this can lead to burnout and anxiety. In the long term, it may cause insomnia, depression and reduced productivity. When we support care, we protect the health and well-being of caregivers.” Dr. Renner said.

He stressed the need to institutionalise care as part of workplace policies, social protection programmes, and national health plans.

“Care is infrastructure,” he added. “When families have access to care, breadwinners can be more productive, and societies become stronger.”