The United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF, in celebrating the 2021 Children’s day has asked the Nigerian government to ensure protection against child right abuses across the country.
UNICEF, in a statement on Thursday noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has posed a challenging moment for child rights in the country and the world, as it threatens the gains made for children’s development over the years.
Nigeria, in 2003 adopted the Child Rights Act to domesticate the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
However, as at the end of 2020, only 25 states had domesticated the Act, while states including Kebbi, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa, Zamfara, Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe, Borno and Adamawa were yet to take the move.
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UNICEF in an earlier report noted that Nigeria has the highest number of child marriages in Africa, with 23 million girls and women married in childhood.
UNICEF’s Country Director, Peter Hawkins, noted that the pandemic has led to increase in child right abuse, as the rights of one in every four Nigerian children has been violated and one in three girls have been sexually abused.
He therefore called on governments at all levels to reinforce commitment to protecting the rights of children.
“It has been a challenging year for us all with the COVID-19 pandemic not least of all, Nigeria’s children and I want to commend efforts at all levels of Nigerian government and society to protect education, health, and protection services in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children.
“Violence is perpetrated against one in four Nigerian children and one in three Nigerian girls are sexually abused. This has only increased during the pandemic.
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“Today of all days, we must commit to reinforce the protection mechanisms for all children.
“But we have learned from this pandemic too. One thing we have learned is that education takes place not only in schools children can and should learn both in and out of school,” he said.
He said that learning continuum is critical, thereby ensuring that all children continue to get education irrespective of their situation, location, or the pandemic.
“Nigerian children are resilient, talented and aspire to do great things. And it is our responsibility to give them the platform and encouragement to do just that.
“We know that protecting children and investing in women and families is not only the right thing to do – it has proven to be a sound economic choice and a cost-effective tool for national development.
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“As we celebrate our children today, we must act in their best interests and deploy innovative solutions to fast-track learning and health services to build back better, for every Nigerian child,” he
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