Children’s Day:Wike Represents Tinubu, Promises Better Welfare

As Nigeria celebrates Children’s Day in Abuja, President Bola Tinubu has advocated a culture where every child feels safe, respected, and heard, both in physical spaces and digital communities.

President Tinubu who was represented by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike declared zero tolerance for bullying and called on Nigerian children to be determined to speak up by reporting any incidents of bullying, whether in the school or around them.

Tinubu emphasized that no one has the right to hurt, silence, or weaken any child hence he stressed the need for all partners and policymakers to embed child rights in all their budgets, plans, and policies.

He reaffirmed his commitment to children’s protection and described them as the future leaders, innovators, and changemakers of Nigeria.

“To our beloved children: you matter. Your dreams matter. Your voices matter. No one has the right to hurt, silence, or diminish you. If you are bullied or harmed, speak up, you will be heard and protected.

“I therefore reaffirm today our constitutional, moral, and inter-generational duty and commitment to safeguard every Nigerian child, protect their rights, and nurture their dreams. We must embed child rights in all our budgets, plans, and policies.

“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. Just to be clear, violence, bullying, and neglect have no place in today’s Nigeria,” Tinubu declared.We prioritize 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.”

“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.”

Also speaking, the FCT Women Affairs Mandate Secretary, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, called for bullying-free schools and the full implementation of the Child Rights Act.

Benjamins-Laniyi, in her address, commended parents, caregivers, and educators for their vital role in nurturing children and emphasized the importance of children as the nation’s future.

She emphasized the significance of the day, first observed in Nigeria in 1964, as a national commitment to promoting children’s rights and welfare.

The event, themed “Stand up, Speak up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation,” featured a march-past by school children across the FCT, as well as the presentation of trophies to schools that performed excellently in the day’s activities.

Remi Johnson, Edited By Blessing Nyor