Experts in the care system have called for a national framework to recognise and professionalise care work, describing it as the foundation of society and the economy.
They spoke at the Global Health Strategy (GHS) programme on Centering Care: Unlocking Women’s Economic Power in Nigeria.
Experts and practitioners emphasised that care work, which includes paid and unpaid work, remains one of the most undervalued sectors in the country.
Global Health Strategies is a communication and advocacy agency that leverages partnerships to drive enduring change. With regional offices globally, GHS possesses an understanding of local contexts and extensive networks to facilitate impactful initiatives.
The strategic approach fosters collaboration with key stakeholders for effective health interventions.
The Media Roundtable was held in respect to the International Day of Care and Support to raise awareness and spark conversation on need to recognise care as critical economic infrastructure, poor working conditions of care givers in Nigeria and how investing in care systems can empower women and drive economic growth. Key discussions include women’s dominance in the caregiving sector and how the lack of formal structure disproportionately affects their economic opportunities and well-being.
Experts noted that Nigeria must centre care in its economic agenda by formalising the care economy through national policies, protection for workers, and investments in social infrastructure, which could unlock productivity and gender equality gains.
Founder of That Good Media, Toyosi Etim-Effiong, described care as the unseen backbone of families and the economy. ‘Care is the foundation of our society; we have taken care of grandparents, kids, and in Nigeria, many bring others from the village. ‘This work is underlaid, undervalued, and underappreciated. Caregivers are a strong support system. There is dignity in labour, and our caregivers are not second-class citizens,’ she said. ‘Care has been taken for granted. If we want national prosperity, we must start by valuing the people who hold our society together.’
Etim-Effiong stressed that recognising care work as legitimate labour would uplift women and strengthen the social fabric that sustains growth.
According to the World Bank Gender Data Portal, Nigerian women spend up to five times more hours on unpaid care work than men do daily. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) further estimates that 708 million women globally are excluded from the labor market due to unpaid care responsibilities.
Yet, as the Fraym ROI Study highlights, Nigeria lacks a national framework for public childcare, leaving caregiving largely as an informal, family-based burden.
Adeola Alli, founder of OneHealth, noted how the care economy enables productivity by supporting working women.’Caregivers are invisible but sustain our families and our economy,’ Alli said. ‘Care is that invisible system that allows women to work. When a woman is supported at home, she works.’
She added that the global care economy could add $11 trillion annually to global GDP if properly valued.
‘Efficiency without empathy isn’t transformation. If Nigeria truly wants to grow, we must build an economy where care is capital; where mothers are not left behind.’
Amara Agbim, founder of The Nanny Academy, said care work is central to national productivity. ‘Work-life integration is at the heart of caregiving. Care work is an essential social infrastructure. Without systems like day care centres and care workshops for nannies and drivers, we cannot have a functional society.’
Agbim outlined that care work includes activities meeting the physical, emotional, and psychological needs of others, which range from childcare and elder care to domestic and healthcare services.
‘If unpaid care were monetised, it would represent nine to 13 percent of global GDP,’ she said, calling for policies that ensure fair compensation, safe working conditions, and freedom from exploitation.She cautioned that many informal care workers are subjected to long hours without contracts, rest, or social protection conditions that lead to burnout and reduced quality of care.
Crystal Ikanih-Musa, an international lawyer and global affairs expert, emphasised the need for strong legal and policy frameworks to formalise and protect care work. ‘There should be a push for a comprehensive care policy at the national level, as we have some at the state level. ‘When you don’t recognise care work, you don’t recognise women and the work they do,’ she said, noting that while Africa boasts some of the highest numbers of female entrepreneurs in the world, many especially in Nigeria lack policy support when balancing care responsibilities.’Policy should support aged people and domestic workers, but coverage is limited and inconsistent from state to state. We need a legal framework to ensure caregivers are tracked, protected, and professionalised,’ she said.Ikanih-Musa added that the National Health Insurance Scheme provides minimal coverage for elderly citizens, leaving care gaps that widen during crises or conflicts. ‘When we face critical times such as conflict, health crises, the need for care increases,’ she warned.
The poor and often unregulated working conditions faced by care workers, including low pay, job insecurity, and limited legal protections. The importance of government-led policies to formally recognize, regulate, and strengthen the care economy as a vital economic sector.
How investing in care services and infrastructure can boost employment, improve productivity, and contribute significantly to national economic growth and the actionable steps for government, private sector, and civil society to collaborate on building a care-centered economy that supports women and promotes inclusive growth.