Analytical Study of the Research Gap in Male Caregiver Involvement in Early Childhood Education in Nigeria

Male caregiver involvement in early childhood education is consistently linked to better child outcomes globally, yet its characterisation and determinants in Nigerian contexts are almost entirely absent from the published literature, creating a critical research gap. This study analytically examined the research gap in male caregiver involvement in ECD in Nigeria through systematic literature review and original primary research. A systematic scoping review of nine databases identified only 6 publications from 2018 to 2024 specifically addressing father or male caregiver involvement in Nigerian ECD contexts, compared to a large international literature. Original primary research comprised a cross-sectional survey of 300 fathers of ECD-aged children in Abuja, Kano, and Enugu, measuring involvement level, attitudes, barriers, and relationship with child development outcomes. Survey results showed that regular school visit involvement was reported by only 24.3 percent of fathers. Cultural role expectations, work constraints, and low awareness of the ECD involvement evidence were the three primary barriers. Higher paternal education was the strongest predictor of involvement. Children with highly involved fathers showed significantly better language and social-emotional development scores. The study identifies five priority research gaps including longitudinal studies of male involvement effects and interventions increasing involvement in northern Nigeria. Recommendations include male-engagement components in all ECD parent programmes, NUC inclusion of male involvement in ECD research priority frameworks, and targeted father engagement strategies in government ECD centres.

Keywords: male caregiver involvement, father engagement, early childhood education, Nigeria, research gap