Nigerian Children’s Day Highlights Urgent Need to Improve Child Welfare

Today, May 27, marks Children’s Day in Nigeria, a special day dedicated to celebrating children in Nigerian primary and secondary schools.

 Schools give pupils a day off to join events such as parades and excursions, recognising the critical role children play in the nation.

More importantly, this day is an opportunity to reflect on the current state of Nigerian children’s health, education, and overall well-being and to examine how government policies are addressing their needs.

The idea of a Universal Children’s Day was first agreed upon by the United Nations in 1954. In 1959, November 20 was designated as International Children’s Day to promote the protection of children’s rights worldwide.

Nigeria began observing its own Children’s Day in 1964.

Since then, governments have introduced various policies, such as free education programmes, aimed at improving children’s access to education.

For example, early efforts included free education initiatives by Nigeria’s Western Regional Government and later by President Shehu Shagari’s administration.

The Obasanjo government also passed the Child Rights Act to protect children’s rights under the law, though states are still expected to adopt the Act for full implementation.

Despite these efforts over the past six decades, significant challenges remain.

Nigerian children still face severe difficulties such as poverty, malnutrition, preventable diseases, and lack of access to education.

Currently, about 18 million Nigerian children are out of school.

Many of these children are vulnerable to child labour or displacement due to ongoing insurgencies and banditry, particularly in northern regions of the country.

These security threats have destroyed schools and disrupted education, seriously endangering the future of Nigerian children.

A UNICEF report from June 2024 revealed that around 11 million Nigerian children suffer from severe food poverty, contributing to malnutrition that stunts physical and cognitive development.

This condition can lead to chronic health problems in adulthood, as well as difficulties with learning, memory, attention, and problem-solving.

The lack of proper nutrition severely limits children’s potential to grow into healthy and productive adults.

The ongoing insecurity in parts of Nigeria, despite government efforts under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, continues to affect school attendance and the safety of children.

 This violence reduces school enrollment and damages vital educational infrastructure.

Without stability and security, the prospects for Nigerian children remain bleak.

The federal government must continue to make strong efforts to protect Nigerian children by ensuring security, improving nutrition, and investing in healthcare and education.

Supporting small-scale farmers, food assistance programmes, and community engagement are also key steps needed to safeguard the welfare and future of Nigerian children.

The rights and well-being of children cannot be guaranteed in a country plagued by violence and neglect.