By Atoyebi Nike
President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s dedication to ensuring the safety, rights, and development of every Nigerian child as the country commemorates the 2025 International Children’s Day.
In a nationwide address on Tuesday, President Tinubu hailed children as the “heartbeat of the nation’s future” and called for unified efforts to foster environments where they can thrive free from fear, violence, and neglect. He described the country’s children as “the pride and future of our great nation,” emphasizing the collective moral and constitutional duty to protect them.
Reflecting on this year’s theme, “Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation,” the President said the focus was apt, especially as digital and physical bullying continue to pose growing threats to child safety.
“Violence, bullying, and neglect have no place in today’s Nigeria,” he declared. Citing alarming data, Tinubu noted that over a third of children globally face bullying, while domestic studies estimate that up to 65% of Nigerian school-age children experience some form of aggression.
He warned that fear in childhood impairs both learning and growth. “A child who learns in fear cannot learn well. A child who grows in fear cannot grow right,” he said.
As part of his Renewed Hope Agenda, the President outlined a series of policy and institutional actions aimed at reinforcing child protection. These include the rollout of the National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children (2024–2030), updates to the Child Rights Act (2003) and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (2015), and enhanced enforcement of the Cybercrime Act to tackle online harassment.
Among the new initiatives is a national campaign titled “See Something, Say Something, Do Something,” which encourages citizens to actively report and intervene in cases of child abuse. The President stressed that protective laws must be accompanied by community vigilance and accountability.
“Laws alone will not be sufficient to protect our children. Parents, teachers, caregivers, faith leaders, lawmakers, and citizens must take ownership,” he said. Although all 36 states have domesticated the Child Rights Act, Tinubu urged faster translation of legal frameworks into tangible change.
He also spotlighted technological and community-based mechanisms such as the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS), which provides real-time tracking and response to child abuse cases. Ongoing awareness campaigns are targeting harmful traditional practices, while frontline workers are receiving specialized training to respond effectively.
In health and nutrition, the President announced the creation of a Department of Nutrition within the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the expansion of Mother and Child Hospitals across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Additionally, he highlighted the National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools as part of his broader education reforms.
He reaffirmed support for social investment programs like the School Feeding Scheme, the Nutrition 774 programme, and a soon-to-be-launched National Child Wellbeing Index to monitor progress and improve accountability across government and civil society efforts.
In a heartfelt message directed at the country’s youth, Tinubu said, “You matter. Your dreams matter. Your voices matter. No one has the right to hurt, silence, or diminish you. If you are bullied or harmed, speak up—you will be heard and protected.”
The President concluded by urging all stakeholders to make child welfare a cornerstone of public planning and policy. “Let today mark a renewed movement to build a Nigeria where no child suffers in silence, no child is left behind, and every child grows in dignity, peace, and love.”
“Congratulations to all our children,” he added. “May your laughter echo across this land as a symbol of Renewed Hope and a prosperous future.”
