Children’s day: Tinubu vows stronger measures against bullying, child abuse
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Abdullateef Fowewe
President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of Nigerian children.
Tinubu in a statement on Tuesday, to mark the 2025 National Children’s Day, celebrated Nigerian children as the pride and future of the nation, vowing to protect and nurture them as tomorrow’s leaders, innovators, and changemakers.
The President expressed support for the theme of this year’s celebration: “Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation”,stressing the need to foster safe, respectful, and inclusive environments for children both offline and online.
Tinubu’s statement reads in part, “My Dear Children, the pride and future of our great nation, I join you to celebrate the 2025 National Children’s Day with immense pride and profound joy. On this special day, let me reaffirm our commitment to nurturing and protecting you as Nigeria’s future leaders, innovators, and changemakers.
“Across every school, community, and home in Nigeria today, you are the most precious part of our national fabric, the heartbeat of our nation’s future, and the custodians of tomorrow’s promise, innovation, and leadership. I therefore reaffirm today our constitutional, moral, and intergenerational duty and commitment to safeguard every Nigerian child, protect his rights, and nurture his dreams.
“This year’s theme, ‘Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation’, could not have been more timely as it speaks directly to the culture we are building. A culture where every child feels safe, respected, and heard, both in physical spaces and digital communities. Just to be clear, violence, bullying, and neglect have no place in the Nigeria of today.
“Globally, more than 1 in 3 children experience bullying regularly. In Nigeria, studies estimate that up to 65% of school-age children have experienced some form of physical, psychological, or social aggression. This is unacceptable. A child who learns in fear cannot learn well. A child who grows in fear cannot grow right.
“My fellow Nigerians and our dear children, we prioritise child protection under the Renewed Hope Agenda. This includes the full implementation of Nigeria’s National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children (2024–2030), which I recently launched. The plan provides a comprehensive roadmap to prevent abuse, prosecute perpetrators, and support victims, backed by robust financing and multi-sectoral coordination.
“We are further taking decisive steps to prevent, detect, and respond to all forms of violence against children. As a government, we have initiated a comprehensive review of the Child Rights Act (2003) and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (2015) to expand the scope of protection, strengthen their provisions, close implementation gaps, and ensure nationwide enforcement. We are also leveraging the Cybercrime Act, which is in full force, to protect children from cyberbullying, exploitation, and abuse.
“I am pleased to note that 36 states have domesticated the Child Rights Act, thus reflecting our collective resolve to protect and provide for the welfare of children. However, laws alone will not be sufficient to protect our children. We require a holistic approach where parents, teachers, caregivers, faith leaders, lawmakers, and citizens must take ownership.
“We are investing in other focused national systems for child protection, such as the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS), which is being scaled up to track and respond to cases in real-time. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs is strengthening community-based child protection mechanisms, training frontline responders, and leading nationwide awareness campaigns to end harmful traditional practices.”
