The Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), in partnership with Ogidi Studios and with support from the World Bank, has launched a national creative industries mobilisation initiative aimed at strengthening early childhood development and family wellbeing in Nigeria.

The initiative, titled “Naija Made Early: Entertainers for Nigerian Children,” brought together policymakers in the creative sector, filmmakers, musicians and other stakeholders at Ogidi Studios in the Lekki area of Lagos State to address what experts described as a critical developmental gap.

According to experts, 90 per cent of a child’s brain development occurs before the age of five. However, current data shows that only 43 per cent of Nigerian children aged three to four meet basic developmental milestones, signalling a foundational deficit that requires urgent national attention.

Speaking at the unveiling, the Director-General of CBAAC, Aisha Adamu Augie, emphasised that early childhood development is a critical pillar of economic growth.

She noted that every investment made in quality early childhood programmes yields long-term economic benefits, including improved productivity and reduced healthcare costs.

Augie explained that African civilisation had historically recognised the importance of early childhood development long before formal education systems emerged.

“African societies understood that the brain that will one day design empires, compose symphonies or lead nations is wired between conception and age five,” she said.

She added that traditional African storytelling, songs and proverbs were deliberately designed to shape character, courage, empathy and intellect from an early age.

“Today, that ancient wisdom meets a modern crisis. Nigeria carries one of the highest burdens of child stunting in the world. Only 43.5 per cent of our children reach age-appropriate developmental milestones, while only 37 per cent attend early childhood programmes.

“These statistics show that we are risking the future of our children. As Nigeria’s population moves toward 375 million by 2050, we risk turning our greatest asset into a liability instead of the demographic dividend Africa has long anticipated,” she said.

Augie noted that the partnership between CBAAC, Ogidi Studios and the World Bank reflects a shared understanding that culture remains one of the most powerful tools for behavioural and social transformation.

“Music reaches where policy cannot. Animation speaks to the heart where statistics fail. Comedy disarms resistance where lectures bore.

Storytelling reshapes what it means to be a responsible father, a nurturing mother and a supportive community,” she added.

Speaking on the collaboration, the Chief Legal Officer of Ogidi Studios, Yemisi Falaye, said the organisation is committed to producing family-friendly content that promotes creativity and supports children’s development.

“We pride ourselves on creating family-friendly content. Animation, in particular, remains one of the most effective ways to engage and educate children,” she said.

Also speaking, the Director of Research and Publications at CBAAC, Adesegun Dosumu, stressed that civilisation begins in childhood, noting that investing in early childhood development is essential for building a strong creative economy.

“We believe that by investing in programmes like this, we are laying the foundation for a stronger and more innovative society,” he said.