By Abbanobi-Eku Onyekachukwu, Abuja
With dismay, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has cited alarming statistics, noting that globally, over 1 in 3 children experience bullying, while in Nigeria, up to 65% of school-age children have faced physical, psychological, or social aggression.
This was contained in his 2025 Children’s Day Message against bullying on Tuesday. To reduce this to the barest minimum, he reiterated the need for collective effort to combat child bullying, emphasizing that violence, bullying, and neglect have no place in the country.
The President however highlighted the full implementation of Nigeria’s National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children (2024-2030), which provides a comprehensive roadmap to prevent abuse, prosecute perpetrators, and support victims, even as he outlined several initiatives.
The outlined initiatives include: Review of the Child Rights Act and Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act; Leveraging the Cybercrime Act to protect children from cyberbullying and online exploitation; Strengthening community-based child protection mechanisms and investing in social protection tools like the Universal Child Grant; and Developing a National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools
The President therefore urged all Nigerians, particularly parents, teachers, caregivers, faith leaders, lawmakers, and citizens, to take ownership of child protection and embed child rights in their budgets, plans, and policies. He emphasized that every child matters, and their voices should be heard and protected.
President Ahmed Tinubu concluded by emphasizing the need to build a Nigeria where no child suffers in silence, no child is left behind, and every child grows in dignity, peace, and love. He congratulated all Nigerian children and wished them a bright future.
