World Bank has called for increased and sustained investment in education, healthcare and nutrition for internally displaced children in Nigeria, warning that inadequate support for millions of children affected by conflict could weaken the country’s future human capital and long-term socio-economic development.
The Nigeria Education News gathered that the appeal was made during a panel session at the 2026 Africa Social Impact Summit held in Lagos, where development partners, education advocates and humanitarian organisations examined strategies for financing early childhood development in communities affected by conflict and displacement.
Representing the World Bank, the institution’s Senior Social Development and Safeguards Specialist, Zara Goni, who spoke on behalf of Senior Health Specialist Dr. Ritgak Tiiley-Gyado, stressed that children living in humanitarian settings should not be deprived of quality education and other essential social services because of circumstances beyond their control. She noted that investments made during early childhood remain among the most effective means of reducing poverty, improving learning outcomes and strengthening national productivity in the future.
Investigations indicate that Nigeria continues to face one of Africa’s largest displacement challenges, with an estimated 3.7 million internally displaced persons, largely resulting from years of insurgency and insecurity in the North-East. A significant proportion of those displaced are children whose education has been disrupted by conflict, forcing many to remain outside the formal school system for prolonged periods.
Further findings showed that participants at the summit expressed concern that declining humanitarian funding and increasing pressure on public finances have continued to limit access to education for children in displacement camps and conflict-affected communities. They maintained that without deliberate financial commitments from governments, development partners, the private sector and philanthropic organisations, millions of vulnerable children could remain excluded from quality learning opportunities.
Discussions during the summit also highlighted the importance of integrating education financing with healthcare, nutrition and child protection interventions. According to the panellists, children who receive holistic support during their formative years are more likely to remain in school, achieve better learning outcomes and contribute meaningfully to national development in adulthood.
The session further examined innovative financing models capable of expanding access to early childhood development programmes in humanitarian settings. Participants emphasised that education should be treated as an essential emergency response rather than a secondary intervention, particularly in communities experiencing conflict and forced displacement.
Education advocates at the summit urged policymakers to strengthen budgetary allocations for programmes targeting internally displaced children while encouraging stronger collaboration among government institutions, international development agencies, civil society organisations and private-sector partners to bridge existing funding gaps. They argued that sustained investment in education remains central to breaking cycles of poverty, preventing learning losses and building resilience among vulnerable children.
The renewed call comes as Nigeria continues to implement policies aimed at improving access to basic education, with experts maintaining that ensuring uninterrupted learning opportunities for children displaced by conflict will be critical to achieving inclusive education and sustainable national development.
