Children

Malnutrition, Street Begging, and Child Rights Dominate National Discourse on Children’s Day

Written by Agboola Oluwafemi on May 28, 2025

News Views: 181

As Nigeria marked the 2025 National Children’s Day, the occasion was dominated by impassioned appeals from civil society groups, political figures, and state leaders for urgent reforms to safeguard vulnerable children, particularly those affected by malnutrition, street begging, and systemic neglect.

Prominent organisations, including ActionAid Nigeria and the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), alongside the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, urged for comprehensive strategies to rescue almajiri children and others in dire conditions. They advocated for institutional reforms to informal Islamic education centres, enforcement of minimum welfare standards, establishment of a robust child data-tracking system, and investments in psychosocial support and vocational reintegration.

Concern was expressed over the plight of countless children, especially in Northern Nigeria, who suffer chronic deprivation, lack of access to formal education, and are subjected to forced street begging—symptoms of entrenched structural failure.

The Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly called for a total eradication of child labour, hawking, and the alarming number of out-of-school children in the state. Similarly, other political actors underscored the need to prioritize child protection through legislation and institutional enforcement.

In his Children’s Day message, the President reaffirmed a national commitment to child rights, pledging to eliminate violence, bullying, and neglect. He announced the full activation of the 2024–2030 National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children—a coordinated framework aimed at prevention, accountability, and victim support, backed by multi-sectoral collaboration and sustained funding.

Governors across several states echoed these sentiments. From Bauchi to Adamawa, Kwara, Ekiti, Ogun, Edo, and Gombe, state leaders highlighted initiatives aimed at eradicating child abuse and fostering a secure, nurturing environment for every child. Specific measures included campaigns against cultism, policy development for child welfare, enhanced educational investments, and social outreach to orphans and vulnerable children.

The House of Representatives also emphasized the need for increased prioritization of child-centred policies, particularly in underserved rural regions, urging the federal government to strengthen health, education, and protective systems.

Collectively, these calls underscore a national reckoning with the realities confronting Nigerian children and a growing consensus on the urgency of transformative, measurable, and sustained interventions to secure their future.