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United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF has praised Ten Nigerian states for adopting a policy that allows female public servants for up to six months of paid maternity leave.
This is a move that will surely help more babies get the recommended six months of exclusive breastfeeding and bring sound health, social and economic benefits.
UNICEF’s list includes Lagos, Kwara, Ekiti, Oyo, Cross River, Kaduna, Niger, Ondo, Enugu and Plateau
Importance of six months breastfeeding
World health authorities including WHO and UNICEF recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life because breastmilk gives infants the nutrients and protection they need during the most vulnerable months.
Exclusive breastfeeding lowers the risk of diarrhoea, pneumonia and other infections and supports healthy growth and brain development.
Yet Nigeria still faces a gap: UNICEF reports that only about one in three Nigerian babies are exclusively breastfed for six months. Extending paid maternity leave is a practical policy step that helps close that gap by giving mothers the time and job security to breastfeed.
Benefits for Babies
- Stronger immunity: Breastmilk contains antibodies that protect newborns from common, life-threatening infections.
- Better growth and brain development: Exclusive breastfeeding supplies the exact nutrients a baby needs for early physical and cognitive development.
- Lower infant deaths: Longer, exclusive breastfeeding is linked to fewer deaths from diarrhoea and pneumonia, the two major causes of infant mortality.
Benefits for mothers
- Health protection: Breastfeeding lowers a mother’s risk of certain cancers (breast and ovarian) and helps the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size.
- Emotional well-being and bonding: Time with a newborn supports the mother-child bond and can reduce stress and anxiety for many women.
- Financial and work security: Paid leave removes the pressure to return to work too soon, allowing mothers to recover, breastfeed and plan for a smooth return to work.
Social and Economic gains
Six months of paid leave is not just a health policy it’s an investment. Children who are well-nourished early in life are more likely to stay healthy, learn better at school and contribute economically later. For employers and governments, improved child health reduces healthcare costs and lowers staff turnover.
UNICEF has urged more states and the private sector to adopt supportive leave and workplace measures, like on-site crèches, to scale these benefits.
Why other states should follow
- Protect children’s lives and futures. Simple: healthier babies today mean healthier adults tomorrow.
- Close inequality gaps. Without paid leave, poorer mothers or those in informal jobs are less able to breastfeed exclusively, widening health disparities.
- Save money for a long term. Fewer sick children and less strain on clinics and hospitals saves public money.
- Support working women. Paid leave respects women’s right to both work and care for their children encouraging higher workforce participation and loyalty.
UNICEF’s recognition of these 10 states should be a wake up call to other state governments, employers, and to policy makers to make six months paid maternity leave the norm, not the exception. The evidence and the experience of these states show that with political will and simple workplace changes, Nigeria can increase exclusive breastfeeding rates and improve the health of a whole generation.
If your state is not yet on the list, ask your local government leaders and employers to support six months paid maternity leave and workplace breastfeeding spaces. This mean a healthier children and stronger communities Tomorrow.