President Bola Tinubu has launched the National Action Plan on Ending Violence Against Children in Nigeria, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to strengthening the enforcement of the Child Rights Act and other legal instruments designed to protect Nigerian children.
The launch took place on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during the first regional meeting of the Africa Pathfinder Countries of the Global Alliance on Ending Violence Against Children.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu outlined key initiatives under the new action plan. These include the creation of a dedicated Child Protection and Development Agency, the launch of a Universal Child Grant to reduce household poverty and child vulnerability, and the establishment of a National Child Protection Database.
“Our legal frameworks reflect our conviction,” the President said. “From the Child Rights Act to the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, Nigeria has laid the statutory foundation for child protection. But legislation alone is not enough, it is the will behind those laws and the systems that enforce them that truly matter.”
He emphasised that the national strategy also prioritises prevention and early intervention by supporting families, challenging harmful norms, and promoting positive parenting practices.
Also Read: Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to End Violence Against Children by 2030
Strengthening Institutions and Systems
President Tinubu assured stakeholders that institutions such as the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs are being equipped with the training and resources needed to drive child protection efforts across all levels of government.
“We cannot protect the child by merely reciting anthems of their struggles or romanticising their vulnerability. Real hope lies in action concrete, deliberate action that reaches into the architecture of our education and health systems,” he stated.
He also announced that the administration is reinforcing existing child protection laws and launching national campaigns to raise awareness and shift societal attitudes towards violence against children.
The United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, Dr Najat Maalla M’jid, commended Nigeria’s efforts and called on African leaders to move from pledges to practical implementation. She urged participants to focus on peer learning, strategy sharing, and sustainable collective action.
Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Hon Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, highlighted the progress made since the November 2024 Global Ministerial Conference in Bogotá, Colombia. She cited the scaling up of the Safe Schools Programme, expansion of parenting interventions, and increased budgetary allocations as evidence of Nigeria’s deepening commitment under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
She also referenced the ongoing review of the national child policy framework and the adoption of the National Strategy and Costed Action Plan to End Child Marriage as part of wider reforms.
Regional Recommitment
Heads of delegation from Zimbabwe, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Burkina Faso reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to the goals of the Global Alliance. They presented updates on national progress and praised Nigeria’s leadership, urging all stakeholders to take concrete actions rather than paying lip service to child protection policies.
The regional meeting marks a significant milestone in the fight to eliminate violence against children in Africa and reinforces the continent’s unified voice in upholding children’s rights and dignity.
