President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has unveiled a comprehensive National Action Plan on Ending Violence Against Children, promising sweeping reforms and institutional changes aimed at protecting the rights and dignity of Nigerian children.
Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the First Regional Meeting of Africa Pathfinder Countries under the Global Alliance on Ending Violence Against Children, held at the Presidential Villa, Tinubu emphasized that “real hope lies in action—concrete, deliberate action.”
The president highlighted several groundbreaking initiatives. These include the establishment of a National Child Protection and Development Agency, launch of a Universal Child Grant to tackle child poverty, and the creation of a National Child Protection Database alongside a Child Well-being Index to track progress and ensure accountability.
“Our legal frameworks reflect our conviction,” Tinubu noted. “From the Child Rights Act to the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, Nigeria has laid down the statutory foundation for the protection of children. But legislation alone does not shield the vulnerable—it is the will behind those laws, and the systems that enforce them, that make the difference.”
The president called for strict enforcement of existing child protection laws, promising a reinvigorated approach that includes early intervention and positive parenting initiatives. He added, “We are strengthening families and communities through programmes that promote positive parenting, challenge harmful social norms, and provide targeted support to vulnerable households.”
Vice President Shettima reiterated that the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda is deeply rooted in human capital development, saying, “This is the soul of our human capital development strategy.”
United Nations Special Representative on Violence Against Children, Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, also urged African governments to translate their commitments into measurable actions. “The time to move beyond declarations is now. Children need action, not promises,” she said.
Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, echoed the President’s resolve. She stated that through the review of the national child policy, scaling of the Safe Schools Programme, and adoption of the National Strategy to End Child Marriage, Nigeria is laying the foundation for “more accountable, inclusive, and data-driven action.”
Delegates from Zimbabwe, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Burkina Faso reaffirmed their dedication to the alliance, commending Nigeria’s leadership in child protection efforts and emphasizing the importance of not paying lip service to such a critical cause.
“We cannot protect the child by merely reciting the anthems of their struggles,” President Tinubu warned. “Sincerity and honesty are required in this crusade.”
