Despite the celebrations and collective positive wishes for Children’s Day in commemoration, Action Aid, a non-governmental organisation, stated on May 27th, 2025, that, beyond the glamour of felicitation, the majority of Nigerian children are still victims of bad governance, which is a product of insecurity, poverty, and being out of school, all of which endanger
Despite the celebrations and collective positive wishes for Children’s Day in commemoration, Action Aid, a non-governmental organisation, stated on May 27th, 2025, that, beyond the glamour of felicitation, the majority of Nigerian children are still victims of bad governance, which is a product of insecurity, poverty, and being out of school, all of which endanger the well-being and future of the country’s youth.
The pro-people agency, in its statement later yesterday to commemorate the anniversary of Children’s Day, signed by Andrew Mamedu, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, was miffed and dissatisfied with the condition of the Nigerian children and described the situation of the Nigerian child as alarming and untenable.
In his Children’s Day message, President Bola Tinubu asserted that his administration has made child protection a priority, with a focus on ending violence against children, prosecuting perpetrators, providing support to victims, and implementing robust financing and multi-sectoral coordination to prevent, detect, and respond to all forms of violence against children.
The President also added that his administration has embedded social-emotional learning and child safeguarding into teacher training, adding that through the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children, he has established inclusive pathways for every child to learn, thrive, and succeed, regardless of background.
Despite the President’s report of his administrative performance on the children, ActionAid said the country has not performed impressively on the development of the children, as the reality in the country does not commensurate with the president’s position about the development.
Quoting the data from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on the development state of Nigerian children, Action Aid said, “Over 18 million children in Nigeria are currently out of school, with girls disproportionately affected by entrenched gender norms, economic hardship, and insecurity. The security situation, particularly in the northeast and northwest, is worsening. The continued presence of insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP has led to the displacement of thousands of families, leaving children vulnerable to violence, trauma, and disrupted learning.”
The organisation further explained that, “Despite the day’s celebratory nature, the reality for many Nigerian children is far from joyful.” The convergence of escalating insecurity, deepening poverty, and widening digital divides has created a crisis that threatens the well-being and future of the country’s children. Despite being the lifeblood of our nation, many children find themselves ensnared in cycles of poverty, conflict, and neglect. We must move beyond rhetoric and take concrete actions to ensure every child has access to education, nutrition, safety, and the digital tools necessary for their development.”
The statement made reference to the growing digital exclusion as another pressing barrier for the children, stating that “Only 36% of Nigerians currently have access to the internet, and an estimated 78% of youth lack the digital literacy needed to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world. This limits their access to quality education, opportunities for skill development, and future employability.
“Compounding these challenges is the harsh economic climate. Various economic reforms and inflationary pressures have pushed basic food prices beyond the reach of many families. As a result, 33 million Nigerians are projected to face acute food insecurity in 2025, with children bearing the brunt of the nutritional crisis.
“To truly unlock the potential of Nigerian children, we must go beyond policy on paper and confront the gaps in implementation. While education may legally be free under the Universal Basic Education framework, the reality is that millions of children, especially girls, displaced children, and those with disabilities, are excluded due to insecurity, poverty, and a lack of infrastructure.
We urge policymakers, private sector actors, and development partners to prioritise inclusive, quality education; expand social protection to tackle hunger and health gaps; strengthen community-based child protection systems; and invest in digital infrastructure and skills that will prepare our children to thrive in today’s world,” the organisation urged the government.
