By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
BOLD and RENEWED drive to safeguard Nigerian children was unveiled as President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to child protection, welfare, and development across all states.
Marking the 2025 National Children’s Day on Tuesday, 27th May, the President laid out a comprehensive framework underscoring legal reforms, education, healthcare, social inclusion, and national awareness campaigns.
Thirty-six states have now domesticated the Child Rights Act, a milestone the President described as a collective resolve to ensure children’s welfare. Still, he stressed that legislation alone is insufficient.
“We require a holistic approach where parents, teachers, caregivers, faith leaders, lawmakers, and citizens must take ownership,” he said.
To advance protection efforts, the government is scaling the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS), empowering frontline responders, and investing in community-based interventions.
Simultaneously, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs is leading a push against harmful traditional practices and training for grassroots advocates.
Aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda, a new institutional framework exclusively targeting child protection and development is being deployed.
This will, according to the President, ensure stronger accountability for children’s rights and wellbeing nationwide.
A National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools was also introduced, with teacher training programmes embedding social-emotional learning and child safeguarding principles.
Healthcare remains a priority.
The administration is expanding maternal and child health access through upgraded Mother and Child Hospitals, with integrated services deployed across all six geopolitical zones.
The federal and subnational governments are collaborating to ensure consistent healthcare delivery across the states.
Beyond physical wellbeing, the message highlighted inclusive educational pathways for all children—including Almajiri and out-of-school youth.
Through new commissions and targeted guidelines, the government is reinforcing its push to help every Nigerian child “learn, thrive, and succeed, regardless of background.”
President Tinubu acknowledged children who cannot remain with their biological families, announcing National Guidelines for Alternative Care and reaffirming support for the National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children.
These frameworks are designed to plug existing protection gaps and ensure every child experiences a nurturing environment.
Nutrition received specific attention through the expansion of the Nutrition 774 programme and the National School Feeding Scheme.
These efforts aim to tackle child hunger while supporting health and cognitive development.
The recently launched Department of Nutrition will focus on improving policy coordination, especially around maternal and child nutrition.
Further, the administration is investing in social protection tools such as the Universal Child Grant and a national Child Wellbeing Index to ensure measurable progress.
A nationwide “See Something, Say Something, Do Something” campaign was launched to reinforce public vigilance and community responsibility in child safety.
The President concluded his message with a direct appeal to children, affirming: “You matter. Your dreams matter. Your voices matter… If you are bullied or harmed, speak up—you will be heard and protected.”
Calling for bold and collective action, he urged policymakers and stakeholders to treat children not as statistics but as the heartbeat of the nation.
“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.”
