The First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has called for renewed national commitment towards protecting and empowering children, saying every Nigerian child deserves the opportunity to succeed regardless of background or circumstance.
Speaking during the 2026 National Children’s Day celebration at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, Senator Tinubu said children must remain at the centre of Nigeria’s development agenda because they represent the future of the nation.
The event, organised ahead of the annual May 27 Children’s Day celebration, brought together government officials, development partners, security agencies, parents, and schoolchildren under the theme, “Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child”.
According to the First Lady, the theme underscores the urgent need to build an inclusive society where no child is discriminated against on the basis of gender, religion, ethnicity, disability, or social status. She said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to policies and programmes that expand access to education, healthcare, nutrition, digital skills, and child protection services across the country.
Mrs. Tinubu noted that through the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Government is investing in initiatives that support the girl child, strengthen vocational and STEM education, and remove barriers preventing children from achieving their dreams.
Encouraging the children, she urged them not to allow their environment define their future, reminding them that Nigeria believes in their abilities and expects them to become responsible leaders and nation-builders.
The First Lady also congratulated winners of the National Essay Competition and applauded young innovators showcased at the event, describing their creativity and brilliance as evidence of a promising future for Nigeria.
In her address, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, said the Federal Government is intensifying efforts to modernise Nigeria’s child protection system to meet current realities. She revealed that the Ministry is reviewing major national frameworks, including the National Child Policy, Child Adoption Policy, and the Child Rights Act, to address emerging concerns such as digital exploitation, trafficking, abuse, mental health challenges, and online safety.
The Minister explained that the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention–774 initiative is helping to coordinate child-focused interventions nationwide through a unified and accountable delivery system. Sulaiman-Ibrahim added that the government is prioritising inclusive development by improving access to education, healthcare, emotional support, and assistive services for children with special needs and vulnerable groups.
She further highlighted the impact of the National Children’s Parliament, noting that many of its former members are now contributing meaningfully to leadership, governance, and public service in Nigeria.
Also speaking at the event, Country Director of Save the Children in Nigeria, Duncan Harvey, described the celebration as not only a moment of joy, but also a time for reflection and renewed commitment towards securing a better future for Nigerian children. He commended the First Lady and the Federal Government for consistently championing initiatives that place children at the centre of national development.
Harvey disclosed that Save the Children recently partnered with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to conduct a child-centred social accountability exercise where children assessed public services within their communities and proposed practical solutions to challenges affecting them.
According to him, the children demanded safer schools, quality healthcare, protection from violence, opportunities to learn and grow, and platforms where their voices can genuinely be heard. He called on federal and state governments to increase funding for education, healthcare, nutrition, and social protection programmes targeted at vulnerable children.
Harvey also advocated for the institutionalisation of child participation through advisory councils and other mechanisms that allow children contribute meaningfully to policies affecting their lives.
Also speaking at the event, representatives of the National Counter Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser warned that children exposed to poverty, displacement, conflict, and exclusion are increasingly vulnerable to violent extremism, criminality, trafficking, and exploitation.
The Centre stressed the importance of quality education, mentorship, family support systems, and psychosocial care in preventing radicalisation and promoting peaceful coexistence among young people.Meanwhile, UNICEF’s representative commended Nigerian children for their confidence, talent, and resilience, while reaffirming the agency’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in protecting children from violence, neglect, and abuse.
The UNICEF official stressed that every child deserves to feel safe at home, in school, online, and within the community, adding that protecting children is a collective responsibility requiring the support of families, governments, and development partners.
UNICEF also praised Nigeria for its progress in child protection reforms, particularly the domestication of the Child Rights Act across all 36 states.
Stakeholders at the event unanimously agreed that building a safer, inclusive, and more supportive environment for children remains essential to securing Nigeria’s future growth, peace, and development.