Today, as we join the continent in marking the 2025 Day of the African Child, I acknowledge the historical significance of this occasion. It commemorates the courageous children of Soweto, South Africa, who on June 16, 1976, stood up for their right to quality education and against apartheid injustices. Their bravery continues to inspire our efforts to uphold and advance the rights of every African child. I also commend the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) for their dedication to placing children’s aspirations at the centre of continental development.
This year’s theme, “Planning and Budgeting for Children’s Rights: Progress Since 2010,” urges us to go beyond ceremonial observances and take bold, evidence-based actions. It raises critical questions about our progress, our priorities, and the gaps that remain in integrating children’s rights into national and subnational planning and budgeting. Planning and budgeting must reflect our values—they determine the kind of future we build. Every missed investment in child development is a missed opportunity for national growth. This is a call to all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies; State and Local Governments; the private sector, civil society, and international partners: let us realign priorities, reassess spending, and act with urgency. Investing in children is investing in security, productivity, and prosperity.
Across Nigeria—from the busy classrooms of Lagos to rural Nasarawa, from innovation hubs in Anambra to the riverine communities of Bayelsa—children call silently yet urgently to be seen, heard, planned for, and protected. Too many remain marginalized. In IDP camps in Maiduguri, Makurdi, and Yola, children live with displacement, trauma, and interrupted education. In flood-prone areas like Mokwa, climate-induced emergencies displaced over 1.4 million children in 2022. More than 10.2 million children in hard-to-reach communities are still out of school. Meanwhile, Nigeria faces a national child marriage crisis, with 44% of girls married before age 18—a practice that entrenches poverty and stifles potential. These are systemic indicators that our planning and budgeting must become more inclusive and responsive. It is no longer enough to draft policies in boardrooms; we must base our priorities on the lived experiences of every child, regardless of location, gender, ability, or circumstance. Children are not statistical afterthoughts; they are central to our national transformation agenda.
I am proud to report that the Child Rights Act is now law in all 36 states and the FCT—an important milestone for Nigeria. However, domestication must extend beyond legislation; it must include proper gazetting, sufficient funding, and unwavering implementation. The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is reviewing all existing child-related laws and policies to align with the Renewed Hope Agenda and international best practices. We are also adopting a holistic approach to programming that includes all children—especially the often-overlooked boy child—to strengthen our child protection and development framework.
Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs has received its most robust budget to date. This reflects the administration’s recognition that children’s rights and welfare are fundamental to sustainable national development. A well-planned, well-resourced childhood builds the foundation for strong families, resilient communities, and a secure nation.
I commend the contributions of our stakeholders—state governments, development partners, private sector actors, traditional leaders, and civil society. Your support has been instrumental in the progress made so far. But now is the time for even greater commitment. Let us expand our investments and strengthen accountability to deliver real change for children.
One shining example of our commitment to child participation is the National Children’s Parliament. This platform empowers children to engage directly with policymakers and voice their concerns on issues that matter to them. As a Ministry, we are committed to strengthening and expanding such mechanisms at all levels.
On this Day of the African Child, let our commitment be more than words. Let us plan with precision, budget with integrity, and act with urgency. Let us honour the memory of Soweto and fulfil the promise of every Nigerian child.
Because when we protect children, we preserve hope. When we invest in them, we secure the future. And when we listen to children, we shape a Nigeria that is inclusive, just, and truly great.
ADEOLA KUNLE
