Children’s Day: Tinubu vows to tackle bullying 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has vowed to eradicate bullying and protect Nigerian children, saying that violence against children and neglect have no place in Nigeria. 

In his message on the occasion of the 2025 National Children’s Day, the President who described the Nigerian child as the pride and future of the nation reaffirmed his “commitment to nurturing and protecting you as Nigeria’s future leaders, innovators, and changemakers.”

The President said as the custodians of tomorrow’s promise, innovation, and leadership, he was committed to “safeguarding every Nigerian child, protect his rights, and nurture his dreams.”

He said, “This year’s theme, ‘Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation,’ could not have been more timely as it speaks directly to the culture we are building. A culture where every child feels safe, respected, and heard, both in physical spaces and digital communities. Just to be clear, violence, bullying, and neglect have no place in the Nigeria of today.

“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.

“We prioritise 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.

“We are further taking decisive steps to prevent, detect, and respond to all forms of violence against children. As a government, we have initiated a comprehensive review of the Child Rights Act (2003) and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (2015) to expand the scope of protection, strengthen their provisions, close implementation gaps, and ensure nationwide enforcement.

“We are also leveraging the Cybercrime Act, which is in full force, to protect children from cyberbullying, exploitation, and abuse.”

The President who disclosed that 36 states have domesticated the Child Rights Act, said the situation reflects “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.

“We are investing in other focused national systems for child protection, such as the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS), which is being scaled up to track and respond to cases in real-time.

“The Ministry of Women’s Affairs is strengthening community-based child protection mechanisms, training frontline responders, and leading nationwide awareness campaigns to end harmful traditional practices.”

President Tinubu explained that his administration has introduced a National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools and developed Guidelines for School Administrators, among several other measures.

“We embed social-emotional learning and child safeguarding into teacher training. Through the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children, we create inclusive pathways for every child to learn, thrive, and succeed, regardless of background,” he added.

He said the federal government is working to collaborate with subnational governments to ensure the establishment of similar facilities across the states.

“We believe every child has the right to grow up in a loving and protective environment. To ensure that children who are unable to remain in their biological homes are given the care and protection they deserve, the Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs has developed the National Guidelines for Alternative Care for Children.

“These guidelines would complement the recently launched National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children (EVAC) and strengthen our child protection systems,” he said.