Ayo Baje
“A Nigerian child who survives at birth is faced with hunger and malnutrition. Our nation today is home to over 18 million out-of-school children, among the highest in the world. This is not just a statistic — it is a deep national wound”
– Peter Obi ( Labour Party Presidential candidate, 2023 )
With the 2025 Children ‘s Day theme anchored on the moving mantra of: “Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation,” it should serve as a clarion call to all the stakeholders in the significant function of child upbringing. That is, to walk the talk on providing a safe, secure, morally sound environment with access to quality education and healthcare delivery that are affordable for the socio-economic development of the Nigerian child, for now and the future. That, of course, involves the critical role parents, teachers, opinion leaders, religious and traditional rulers, in addition to that of the government, have to play in safeguarding their lives and providing for their welfare. This has become imperative considering the dire economic situation that the present generation of our children is battling with.
Though President Bola Tinubu in his speech on the Children ‘s Day pledged to prioritize child protection under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with the full implementation of Nigeria’s National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children (2024–2030), which he recently launched he has to be reminded on the root causes of violence against children. These include the escalating wave of poverty, hunger, and joblessness amidst a high cost of living. These have affected food items, fuel, electricity tariff, taxes, school fees, and of course, rents, all of which have skyrocketed over the past two years of his administration.
In as much as his plan to provide a comprehensive roadmap to prevent abuse, prosecute perpetrators, and support victims, backed by robust financing and multi-sectoral coordination are commendable initiatives, the fear factor right from the family level through educational and Industrial sectors will persist as long as the operational environment is harsh on both the psychological and physical wellbeing of the average Nigerian citizen.
All the same, his administration should take decisive steps to prevent, detect, and respond to all forms of violence against children, as promised. So, it is good to note that his government has initiated a comprehensive review of the Child Rights Act (2003) and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (2015). The aim is to expand the scope of protection, strengthen its provisions, close implementation gaps, and ensure nationwide enforcement. Also notable is the fact that of leveraging the Cybercrime Act, which is in full force, to protect children from cyberbullying, exploitation, and abuse
Similarly, it is worthy of commendation that the 36 states of the federation have domesticated the Child Rights Act. This, according to Tinubu, reflects the government’s collective resolve to protect and provide for the welfare of children. And with the introduction of the National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools and developed Guidelines for School Administrators, the learning environment should be free from fear and all forms of threats and intimidation.
Of significance also is the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children. Its noble aim is to create inclusive pathways for every child to learn, thrive, and succeed, regardless of background. That reminds me of the Almajiri School Program under the then President Goodluck Jonathan. It should have been sustained devoid of political sentiments. As Peter Obi rightly noted: “Each out-of-school child represents a dream deferred, a future endangered, and a country that is failing to uphold its most sacred responsibility.”
With specific regard to the children ‘s welfare, urgent steps should be taken to reduce the scourge of poverty. A 2024 UNICEF report revealed that around 11 million children here in Nigeria are suffering from severe food poverty, with one in four under the age of five stunted due to malnutrition, particularly in rural areas. That, on its own, is a form of brutality. So is that of the 2022 National Bureau of Statistics report, which found that 46.5% of Nigerian children aged 5–14 were engaged in child labour.
Yet, with the 2023 report from UNICEF estimating that over 110 million people under the age of 18 live in Nigeria, no effort should be spared to ensure that this national asset is provided with the best quality of life. But doing so would involve the contribution of all the stakeholders. Certainly, all manner of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, yahoo-yahoo scammers and drug traffickers come from one home or the other. If the parents are there for them, they would not be engaged in such crimes and criminality.
Both the state and federal governments should learn some lessons from the laudable initiatives of one of the most patriotic Nigerians, the Efik-born Prof. Eyo It’s. He returned to Nigeria from the United States in 1933 after clinching two Master’s Degrees and a doctorate in Philosophy. Concerned about the future of Nigerian children, the educationist saw to the birth of the Nigerian Youth Movement, NYM. He predicted his vision on the palm philosophy with the five fingers of Health, Economy, Beauty, Knowledge, Patriotism and Religion. He was passionate about young Nigerians who would be well educated and resourceful, to become useful citizens to the country. That was during the colonial era. If he could actively engage the young minds, then why not our current leaders in the first quarter of the 21st Century?
In fact, so impactful was the NYM in the training of young Nigerian doctors, lawyers and teachers that in that same 1933, the likes of Dr. J. C. Vaughan, Ernest Okoli, Samuel Akinsanya and H.O. Davies all based in Lagos keyed into the vision. With it, they challenged the poor quality of the then Yaba Higher College. Its tempo and tenor spread nationwide, prompting the return of the Great Zik from Ghana to kick-start and give life to the dream and desire for Nigeria’s political independence. That was then.
Now we need our political leaders to reduce the issue of both physical and emotional brutality drastically. The government should therefore provide the enabling environment for businesses to thrive. The costs of transportation, food items, electricity tariff, school fees and rents should be reduced to make them affordable. The government should reduce both the tax and debt burdens on citizens so that parents can meet the financial burdens of their children. It should also come up with pro-people policies that would act as catalysts for both industrialisation and good governance. With all that, there will be a brighter future for Nigerian children
