Toyosi Etim-Effiong, the wife of actor Daniel Etim-Effiong, has added her voice to growing demands for a national policy to regulate Nigeria’s care work sector.
The call was made at a conference titled ‘Centering Care: Unlocking Women’s Economic Power in Nigeria,’ hosted by the advocacy group Global Health Strategies (GHS) to mark the International Day of Care.
Experts at the event highlighted that the care sector — encompassing both paid and unpaid labour — remains one of the most undervalued in the country.
They pointed to a disproportionate burden placed on women, who dominate caregiving roles yet face “poor working conditions, low pay, job insecurity, and limited legal protections”.
Etim-Effiong, founder of That Good Media, lamented that caregivers are the backbone of society but are consistently undermined.
The entrepreneur highlighted the challenges to include “underpayment, undervalue, and under-appreciation”.
“Caregivers hold our society together, yet their work is underpaid, undervalued, and underappreciated. If we want national prosperity, we must start by valuing those who care for us,” she said.
“The care economy is the unseen backbone of families and the nation.”
“According to the World Bank Gender Data Portal, Nigerian women spend up to five times more hours on unpaid care work daily than men.
“The International Labour Organisation estimates that 708 million women worldwide are excluded from the labour market due to unpaid care responsibilities.
“Yet Nigeria lacks a national public childcare framework, leaving caregiving largely informal and family-based.”
Other advocates echoed the urgent need for structural change.
On her part, Adeola Alli, founder of OneHealth, emphasized the economic upside, stating that “globally, the care economy could add $11 trillion annually to GDP if properly valued”.
“Caregivers sustain families and the economy. When women are supported at home, they can work and contribute meaningfully,” she said.
“Globally, the care economy could add $11 trillion annually to GDP if properly valued.”
Also speaking, Amara Agbim, founder of The Nanny Academy, described care work as “essential social infrastructure”.
She warned that many informal workers endure long hours without contracts or social protections, leading to burnout.
“Without systems like daycare centres and professional training for caregivers, society cannot function effectively. Care work includes childcare, elder care, domestic, and healthcare services, all vital to national productivity,” she said.
Crystal Ikanih-Musa, a lawyer, called for robust legal frameworks to protect care workers, citing the National Health Insurance Scheme’s coverage for elderly citizens as a critical component that becomes even more vital during crises.
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