Women 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. The call was made during Global Heath Strategy (GHS) on Centering Care: Unlocking Women’s Economic Power in Nigeria, where they emphasised that care work, which includes both paid and unpaid work, remains one of the most undervalued sectors in the country.

The Media Roundtable was held in respect to the International Day of Care and Support which holds yearly on October 29th. The objective of the roundtable was to raise awareness and spark conversation on the need to recognise care as critical economic infrastructure, the poor working conditions of care givers in Nigeria and how investing in care systems can empower women and drive Nigeria’s economic 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 labour 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. 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.

The poor and often unregulated working conditions faced by care workers, including low pay, job insecurity, and limited legal protections and others. The advocates 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 immense productivity and gender equality gains.

Founder, That Good Media, Toyosi Etim-Effiong, described care as the unseen backbone of both families and the economy. “Care is the foundation of our society; a lot of us have taken care of grandparents, kids, and in Nigeria, some people 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.”

“Care has been taken for granted for too long. If we truly 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 not only uplift women but also strengthen the social fabric that sustains economic growth.

Founder, The Nanny Academy, Amara Agbim, 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.

“If unpaid care were monetised, it would represent nine to 13 per cent of global GDP.”
She called 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.

Founder of OneHealth, Adeola Alli, said caregivers are invisible but sustain families and the economy. “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 yearly 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.”

On her part, lawyer and global affairs expert, Crystal Ikanih-Musa, 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.