By Kofoworola Fakeye, JKNewsMedia Reporter
HOPE, RESILIENCE and inclusion formed the centre of President Bola Tinubu’s Children’s Day message as he celebrated Nigerian children and directed intensified rescue operations for abducted pupils and teachers across the country.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that speaking on May 27, 2026, Tinubu celebrated children excelling in school, learning trades, living with disabilities and overcoming hardship without losing hope.
He described Nigerian children as “the pride of our Republic, the custodians of tomorrow’s promise, and the living reminder that we can shape the future of Nigeria by the opportunities we create for our children today.”
He said the 2026 Children’s Day theme, “Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child,” reflected the nation’s conscience and underscored that the future “is not a distant promise; it is already here.”
The President said the celebration coincided with Eid el Kabir while some children and teachers in Oyo and Borno states remained in captivity.
“Some children have been forced into fear. Some parents cannot join today’s celebration because their hearts are set on one prayer: ‘Bring our children home,’” he said.
Addressing the abducted children, their parents and teachers, the President said they had not been forgotten or abandoned.
He assured grieving families that the government would continue working until children taken from homes, schools and communities were safely returned and those responsible brought to justice.
Tinubu said he had directed all relevant security agencies to sustain and intensify coordinated rescue operations for abducted children and vulnerable citizens nationwide.
“These operations must be intelligence led, carefully executed and focused on the safe recovery of our children,” he said.
He also directed the strengthening of school protection measures in high-risk areas through updated school vulnerability mapping, closer coordination between state governments and security commands, rapid response links between schools and local security units, and stronger community based early warning systems.
He said the Federal Ministry of Education, working with state governments, would deepen implementation of the Safe Schools framework with clear reporting, responsibility and timelines.
“Every school in a vulnerable area must know who to call, what to do, where to move, and how to protect children when danger is identified,” Tinubu stated.
JKNewsMedia.com also noted that the President Tinubu said the government would improve support for children who survived abduction, violence and displacement through medical attention, counselling, education and reintegration support.
He added that protecting children could not be left to government alone, calling on parents, teachers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, youth groups, transport unions, local vigilantes and the media to play active roles.
“When information is shared quickly and responsibly, lives can be saved,” he said.
He said his administration remained committed to a Nigeria where every child could learn safely, grow in good health, access opportunities and dream without fear.
He added that investments in education, healthcare, nutrition, social protection, digital skills and safer communities reflected the government’s commitment to children’s rights.
“To our children, you matter. Your dreams matter; your safety matters. Your education matters. Be assured that your future matters to this government and to this nation, and we will safeguard it,” the President said.
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FULL TEXT OF THE PRESIDENT’S SPEECH
PRESIDENT TINUBU’S STATEMENT ON CHILDREN’S DAY AND OUR CHILDREN IN CAPTIVITY
On this Children’s Day, I celebrate every Nigerian child. I celebrate the child who is excelling in school. I celebrate the child who is learning a trade. I celebrate the child living with disability and still pressing forward with courage. I celebrate the child who has lost much but has not lost hope.
Today belongs to you. It is a day to celebrate your innocence, your strength, your creativity, your aspirations, and the immeasurable value you bring to our nation. You are the pride of our Republic, the custodians of tomorrow’s promise, and the living reminder that we can shape the future of Nigeria by the opportunities we create for our children today.
The theme for this year’s celebration, “Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child,” speaks powerfully to the soul of our national conscience. It reminds us that the future is not a distant promise; it is already here.
As we mark this special day, which coincides with Eid-el-Kabir, some Nigerian children and their teachers in Oyo and Borno should be with their families, but are being held captive by criminals. Some children have been forced into fear. Some parents cannot join today’s celebration because their hearts are set on one prayer: ‘Bring our children home.’
To those children, their parents, and their teachers, I say this as a father and your President: you are not forgotten. You are not abandoned.
To the families grieving and despondent, your government will not turn your pain into ceremony. We will continue to work until children taken from their homes, schools and communities are returned safely, and until those who profit from this cruelty are brought to justice.
I have directed all relevant security agencies to sustain and intensify coordinated rescue operations for abducted children and other vulnerable citizens across the country. These operations must be intelligence-led, carefully executed and focused on the safe recovery of our children.
I have also directed the strengthening of school protection measures in high-risk areas. This will include updated school vulnerability mapping, closer coordination between state governments and security commands, rapid response links between schools and local security units, and stronger community-based early warning systems.
The Federal Ministry of Education, working with state governments, is to deepen the implementation of the Safe Schools framework with clear reporting, clear responsibility and clear timelines. Every school in a vulnerable area must know who to call, what to do, where to move, and how to protect children when danger is identified.
We will also improve support for children who have survived abduction, violence and displacement. Rescue is not the end of the government’s duty. A child who returns from trauma must return to care, medical attention, counselling, education and dignity. I have directed the relevant ministries and agencies to ensure that recovered children receive proper reintegration support, not temporary attention.
Let me also state that protecting children cannot be left solely to the government. Parents, teachers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, youth groups, transport unions, local vigilantes and the media all have a role to play. When a community sees strange movement around a school and keeps quiet, a child is placed at risk. When warning signs are ignored, families suffer. When information is shared quickly and responsibly, lives can be saved.
This is why we will continue to strengthen the link between communities and security agencies. The fight to protect children must begin before an attack happens, not after one has already occurred.
My administration remains committed to a Nigeria where every child can learn safely, grow in good health, eat well, access opportunity and dream without fear. We are investing in education, health care, nutrition, social protection, digital skills and safer communities because childhood must not be a privilege reserved for a few. It is the right of every Nigerian child.
To our children, you matter—your dreams matter; your safety matters. Your education matters. Be assured that your future matters to this government and to this nation, and we will safeguard it.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria,
May 27, 2026
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