The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has emphasised the urgent need to restore the dignity of children and protect those affected by violence and conflict in Nigeria.
Cheikh Ousmane Toure, UNODC’s Country Representative, made the appeal on Monday in Maiduguri during the opening of the 5th World Congress on Justice with Children.
 This year’s Congress is themed: “Advancing Child-Centred Justice: Preventing and Responding to Violence Affecting Children in Justice Systems.”
Toure noted that children in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States have suffered severe neglect since 2009, with many abducted, trafficked, and forcibly conscripted into armed and criminal groups.
He cited available data indicating that no fewer than 1,385 children were recruited into various criminal groups between 2017 and 2019.
“These figures are more than mere statistics. Each one represents a child whose life, dignity, and future are at risk,” he said.
Toure stressed the need for urgent and sustained action to protect children in conflict-affected regions, adding that approximately 60 per cent of those impacted are young people.
“Nigeria’s development hinges on the protection and empowerment of its youth,” he said.
He also called for an inclusive approach to ensuring young people are placed on the right path, highlighting the importance of amplifying their voices at the local, national, and international levels.
“Child protection is not optional. Prevention requires more than rhetoric it demands resources, sustained commitment, and accountability,” he added.
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Toure noted that the Congress had convened legal experts, civil society organisations, youth advocates, and international bodies, all united in their resolve to build a justice system that upholds children’s rights, prevents violence, and empowers Nigerian youths to reclaim their futures.
“Together, we can build a future where no child is left behind and where every child has the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s development,” he stated.
Earlier, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno, in his address at the opening ceremony, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to prioritising the welfare of children, particularly in matters relating to juvenile justice.
Represented by the State Commissioner for Justice, Hauwa Mohammed, the governor pledged that his government would not allow conflict-affected children to be recruited as child soldiers.