NEDC Launches Renew Hope Baby Support Program in Nigeria

The Nigerian Economic Development Commission (NEDC) has initiated the Renew Hope Baby Support (RHB) program aimed at closing gaps in child identity and healthcare. Vice President Kashim Shettima commended the NEDC for taking proactive steps to implement President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's vision, declaring 2026 as the year for family social protection.

The RHB program, presented by NEDC's Managing Director/CEO Moha Goni Alkali at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, is designed to ensure that every Nigerian child has a structured pathway to identity and healthcare. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to stabilize and develop the North East region, focusing on vulnerable children and families.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Regional Development, Mariam Masha, highlighted that approximately 7.6 million births occur yearly in Nigeria, with fewer than half formally registered, leading to millions of children starting life without a formal identity. The RHB program aims to connect children with long-term opportunities and is aligned with existing political mandates for human capital development.