As Nigeria marks the 2025 International Children’s Day, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged a renewed dedication to the protection and development of every Nigerian child, describing them as the nation’s “most cherished assets and the custodians of its future.”
Speaking on Tuesday, Tinubu aligned his remarks with this year’s theme, “Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation,” noting that the message is crucial in ensuring that children grow up in environments free from violence, intimidation, and neglect—both online and offline.
“No child should be forced to learn in fear or grow up in silence,” the President said. “Our duty—moral, constitutional, and generational—is to secure their safety, nurture their potential, and amplify their voices.”
Citing alarming statistics, the President referenced studies indicating that over one in three children globally experience bullying, with estimates suggesting that up to 65 percent of Nigerian school children face various forms of aggression.
To tackle these challenges, Tinubu outlined a series of ongoing and planned interventions under his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. These include:
Implementation of the National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children (2024–2030)
Review of the Child Rights Act (2003) and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (2015)
Strict enforcement of the Cybercrime Act to address cyberbullying.
He also introduced a new initiative, the “See Something, Say Something, Do Something” campaign, urging citizens to become active protectors of children’s welfare.
“Laws alone are not enough,” Tinubu emphasized. “Everyone—from parents and teachers to community leaders and lawmakers—must take ownership of child protection.”
Among the new measures announced are the development of a Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS) for real-time case tracking, community-based support systems, expanded public education on harmful traditional practices, and increased training for frontline child welfare workers.
In a notable policy move, the President revealed the creation of a Department of Nutrition within the Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs, alongside plans to expand Mother and Child Hospitals across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones. A National Policy on School Safety and Violence-Free Learning Spaces was also unveiled.
“We are committed to sustaining school feeding programs, implementing the Nutrition 774 initiative, and launching the National Child Wellbeing Index to ensure accountability and progress,” he added.
Directly addressing Nigerian children, President Tinubu declared: “You matter. Your dreams matter. Your voices will be heard. If you are being bullied or harmed, speak up—your safety is our responsibility.”
He called on policymakers and stakeholders to integrate child rights into every facet of governance, stressing that the protection and prosperity of Nigerian children are pivotal to the country’s long-term stability and growth.
“Let this Children’s Day be the beginning of a stronger national resolve,” Tinubu said, “to build a Nigeria where no child suffers in silence, no child is left behind, and every child grows in peace, dignity, and love.”
