President Bola Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to ending violence against children by launching the National Action Plan on Ending Violence Against Children, a bold and comprehensive framework aimed at ensuring the safety, dignity, and well-being of every Nigerian child.
The landmark event took place on Thursday, May 8, 2025, during the First Regional Meeting of Africa’s Pathfinder Countries under the Global Alliance on Ending Violence Against Children, held at the Banquet Hall of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja. Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu delivered a stirring keynote that called on African leaders to rise above rhetoric and take concrete, deliberate action to eliminate violence against children across the continent.
According to the President, the timing of the meeting is both symbolic and strategic, reviving the commitments made at the First Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children held in Bogotá. “That moment in our shared history gave rise to a global campaign united by a singular purpose: to secure the safety, dignity, and future of every child,” Tinubu said.
The President emphasized that Nigeria’s approach goes far beyond policy pronouncements. “We must be honest with ourselves. We cannot protect the child by merely reciting the anthems of their struggles or romanticising their vulnerability. The real hope lies in action, concrete, deliberate action,” he stated. “Our commitment must run deep, reaching into the very architecture of our education and health systems. This is the soul of our human capital development strategy.”
A core pillar of Nigeria’s new child protection strategy is prevention and early intervention. President Tinubu underscored this priority, saying:
“That is why our national strategy also embraces prevention and early intervention. We are strengthening families and communities through programmes that promote positive parenting, challenge harmful social norms, and provide targeted support to vulnerable households.
Our dedicated duty-bearers, beginning with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, are being equipped with the training and resources to champion the cause of child protection across all levels of government.”
This proactive strategy is embedded in the Costed National Plan of Action, a well-structured roadmap that outlines measurable targets for prevention, protection, and accountability. It ensures that child protection becomes a national priority, not just in principle, but in practice, offering every Nigerian child the opportunity to grow and thrive in a safe, nurturing environment.
At the heart of this effort is the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, led by Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, fsi, who has been recognized for her exceptional leadership in advancing child protection. President Tinubu commended the Minister for her tireless advocacy and strategic coordination of the multi-stakeholder development of the National Action Plan.
Minister Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, in her address, highlighted a significant 1,000% increase in the 2024 budget allocated to child protection initiatives. She also announced the re-establishment of the Child Protection Knowledge and Data Centre, which will serve as a national hub for evidence-based interventions.
“Violence against children is not just a moral failure, it is an economic and security crisis. We must build systems that not only protect but empower,” she declared.
As a proud Pathfinding Country, Nigeria’s leadership in child protection continues to deepen under the Renewed Hope Agenda. With renewed energy drawn from the commitments made in Bogotá and lessons shared among the 14 African Pathfinding nations gathered in Abuja, Nigeria is leading by example, proving that with the right vision, coordination, and political will, a safer future for every child is within reach.