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| Children’s Day |
As Nigeria celebrates Children’s Day in 2024, it is imperative for the government to make child rights a priority. This day serves as a reminder of the nation's duty to foster a secure environment where children can grow into innovative, resourceful, and patriotic citizens.
The theme for this year is, “Every right, for every child.”
The oft-repeated saying that children are our future has lost its meaning amidst the harsh realities of child labour, trafficking, insecurity, displacement, malnutrition, and the lack of essential developmental tools and amenities in Nigeria.
With a youthful demographic—42 percent of Nigeria's 223 million people are under 15, and 70 percent are under 30, according to the National Bureau of Statistics—children are unfortunately among the most marginalized.
Economic struggles hit children the hardest. Food inflation stands at 40.53 percent, and pervasive insecurity undermines family nutrition. The 2023 Global Report on Food Crisis lists Nigeria among the top ten nations where families lack sufficient nutrition. Dataphyte reports that malnutrition has stunted the growth of 31.5 percent of Nigerian children.
The high cost of education forces many parents and guardians to keep their children out of school. Nigeria contends with 20.1 million children not in school, the world's second-largest figure after India.
The political elite have let down the children of Nigeria. Despite the crisis of out-of-school children, 27 of 36 states have not tapped into the N54.9 billion Universal Basic Education Commission fund, designed to enhance primary education. Without significant investment, Nigeria cannot fulfill its commitment to free, compulsory education at public primary and secondary schools.
Insecurity exacerbates the neglect of children's rights, with insurgents and terrorists enlisting minors as soldiers. The European Institute University reports that Boko Haram enlisted about 10,000 children between 2009 and 2019. In 2017, UNICEF recorded 83 children used as 'human bombs' in the North-East.
Nigerian children face a dual threat: they are often kidnapped and displaced from their homes. The UN reports that violence has displaced over 1.4 million children.
In his first year as president, Bola Tinubu has not curbed the rampant kidnappings and violence. SBM Intelligence states that over 7,000 kidnappings occurred by March. In January, 13-year-old Folashade Ariyo was kidnapped and murdered in Abuja.
In February, terrorists kidnapped 200 women and children in Borno State. The following month, over 150 students were taken from a school in Kaduna State.
Despite the Child Rights Act's adoption by 34 states, violations like child labour, marriage, and rape persist. The NBS estimates that 24 million children aged five to 17 are engaged in labour.
Parents must plan their families responsibly to ensure their children receive proper education without financial strain.
President Tinubu should restore the school feeding programme, halted due to a financial scandal in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development. A reformed programme could boost school attendance and help dropouts return to education.
State governments must fulfill their obligations to the children within their jurisdictions.
