CBAAC and Ogidi Studio Reimagine African Child Development Through Creativity
A national mobilization effort in the creative industries, focused on early childhood development and family well-being, is being led by the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) in partnership with Ogidi Studio. This initiative, titled Naija Made Early: Entertainers for Nigerian Children, recently brought together a high-powered assembly of policymakers, filmmakers, musicians, and other stakeholders at Ogidi in the Lekki area of Lagos State. The gathering aimed to address a critical developmental gap in Nigeria, where data reveals that only 43 percent of children aged three to four meet basic developmental milestones, indicating a foundational deficit that requires urgent national attention.
Emphasizing Early Childhood as an Economic Strategy
Director-General of CBAAC, Aisha Adamu Augie, highlighted that early childhood development is a core pillar of economic strategy. She emphasized that every investment in high-quality early programs yields significant returns and reduces long-term remedial health costs. Augie pointed out that African ancestors never separated art from life or culture from child-rearing, citing examples from Yoruba Ile-Ife, Igbo Uli traditions, Hausa griot storytelling, Akan Adinkra symbols, Zulu praise poetry, and Swahili lullabies. She noted that the first classroom was never a building but rooted in cultural practices that shaped character, courage, empathy, and intellect from infancy.
Augie stressed that African civilization has always recognized the critical importance of the first five years of life, long before the introduction of missionary classrooms, Qur'anic schools, or modern nursery systems. She explained that the brain development that leads to future achievements in leadership, arts, and innovation is wired between conception and age five. However, today, this ancient wisdom confronts a modern crisis: Nigeria faces one of the highest burdens of stunting globally, with only 43.5 percent of children reaching age-appropriate developmental milestones and a mere 37 percent attending early childhood programs.
Addressing a National Crisis Through Creative Genius
These statistics, Augie warned, represent stolen futures and pose a risk as Nigeria's population is projected to reach 375 million by 2050. Instead of harnessing a demographic dividend, the country could turn its greatest asset into a liability. She called for a resurgence of African creative genius—evident in works like Things Fall Apart, Afrobeats, and Nollywood—to not only entertain but also heal, teach, and rebuild the Nigerian and African child. This is why CBAAC, as the institutional memory of Black and African arts, has partnered with Ogidi Studios and the World Bank to host this historic gathering.
Augie asserted that culture must transcend mere decoration and serve as a powerful tool for behavior change and social norms transformation. She argued that music, animation, comedy, and storytelling can reach audiences in ways that policy and statistics cannot, effectively promoting responsible parenting and community protection.
Partnership and Implementation Strategies
Yemisi Falaye, Head of Legal at Ogidi Studio, discussed the studio's role in the partnership, noting that it is built to foster creativity, particularly through animation, which is an effective medium for engaging children. Falaye emphasized that Ogidi Studio is committed to producing family-friendly content that aligns with the initiative's goals.
Adesegun Dosumu, Director of Research and Publication at CBAAC, added that civilization begins in childhood, and investing in early development is crucial for promoting a creative economy. He expressed confidence that by starting from the scratch with this program, they can lay a strong foundation for future growth and societal well-being.
This collaborative effort marks a significant step towards leveraging Nigeria's rich cultural heritage to address contemporary challenges in child development, aiming to create a brighter future for the next generation.
