By Nkechi Eze
The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim has marked the 2025 Day of the African Child with a powerful call to action, urging all levels of government, the private sector, and development partners to prioritize children’s rights through deliberate planning, budgeting, and implementation.
In a statement signed by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jonathan Eze, the Minister acknowledged the historical significance of the day, which commemorates the bravery of the children of Soweto, South Africa, who, on June 16, 1976, marched against apartheid to demand their right to quality education. She praised the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) for its continued commitment to championing children’s rights across the continent.
This year’s theme, “Planning and Budgeting for Children’s Rights: Progress Since 2010,” the Minister said, is a challenge to all stakeholders to reflect on progress made and critically examine how far Nigeria has come in placing children’s needs at the centre of national and subnational development priorities. She stressed that planning and budgeting should not be treated as mere administrative procedures but as moral and strategic decisions that shape the nation’s future.
Highlighting the stark realities faced by Nigerian children, she noted that millions continue to experience the harsh effects of displacement, out-of-school challenges, and climate-induced emergencies. She cited statistics showing over 1.4 million children were displaced by flooding in 2022, and more than 10.2 million children remain out of school nationwide. She also raised alarm over the ongoing crisis of child marriage, which affects approximately 44% of Nigerian girls, describing it as a systemic failure that undermines national progress.
The Minister reaffirmed a major milestone in child protection, announcing that the Child Rights Act is now domesticated in all 36 states and the FCT. While commending this progress, she emphasised that legislative success must be accompanied by proper gazetting, dedicated funding, and rigorous implementation to truly make a difference in children’s lives.
Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, she revealed that the budget of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs has been significantly enhanced, reflecting the administration’s firm stance that children’s rights are foundational to national development. She said the Ministry is actively reviewing child-related laws to ensure alignment with global best practices and a future-ready policy framework that includes both girls and the often-overlooked boy child.
Commending stakeholders including state governments, international partners, civil society, and traditional institutions, the Minister called for renewed efforts and deeper accountability. She spotlighted the National Children’s Parliament as a model for child inclusion in governance, pledging to expand such platforms to ensure more children can voice their concerns and participate in shaping policy.
As Nigeria joins the rest of Africa to mark this important day, the Minister urged that the commitment to children must move beyond words. She called on all actors to “plan with precision, budget with integrity, and act with urgency,” stating that “when we protect children, we preserve hope; when we invest in children, we secure the future; and when we listen to children, we shape a Nigeria that is inclusive, just, and truly great.”
