FG Backs NEDC’s Renewed Hope Baby Support Programme to Tackle Child Identity, Healthcare Gaps

Vice President Kashim Shettima has endorsed a new child-focused initiative by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) aimed at addressing gaps in birth registration, healthcare access, and long-term human capital development across Nigeria.

The initiative, known as the Renewed Hope Baby Support (RHBS) programme, is designed to ensure that every Nigerian child is captured within formal systems from birth, linking identity registration, healthcare participation, and future economic opportunities.

Speaking at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during a presentation by the NEDC management team led by its Managing Director, Mohammed Goni Alkali, the Vice President described the programme as “timely and strategic,” aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of 2026 as the Year of the Family and Social Protection.

Shettima noted that the RHBS initiative fits into the broader North-East Stabilisation and Development Masterplan, particularly its focus on building a peaceful society, healthy citizens, and an educated population.

He called for strong collaboration between the NEDC, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and other government agencies to ensure effective implementation and maximum impact.

According to the Vice President, the programme will serve as a structured intervention targeting vulnerable families, particularly women and children in the North-East, while also acting as a “strategic palliative” to cushion the impact of ongoing economic reforms.

“This demonstrates that while necessary economic policies are being implemented, the government remains committed to the welfare of its citizens,” he said.

Shettima added that the Presidency will unveil further details on the rollout and implementation of the programme on May 27, 2026, to mark Children’s Day.

Earlier, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Regional Development, Dr. Mariam Masha, explained that Nigeria records an estimated 7.6 million births annually, yet less than half are officially registered within the first year.

She warned that this gap leaves millions of children outside formal national systems, weakening planning across critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and economic development.

Masha described the RHBS programme as a structured national model rather than a conventional welfare scheme, emphasizing that it will use milestone-based support to connect children to identity systems, healthcare services, and long-term opportunities from birth.

She added that the framework is designed to translate the government’s family-centred policy direction into measurable outcomes, with a strong focus on early childhood development.