Across Nigeria, children continue to grapple with profound challenges that threaten their fundamental rights to survival, protection, and development. In light of this, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on the Nigerian government to rouse itself from its apparent inertia, while urging citizens to actively demand accountability to ensure the full realisation of children’s rights.
Speaking at a media dialogue held in commemoration of the 2025 Day of the African Child, Celine Lafoucriere, Chief of UNICEF in the South-West region, highlighted how inadequate and inefficient budgeting remains a major obstacle to the advancement of children’s welfare in the country.
“Budgeting for children ought not to be treated as an isolated or secondary task,” Lafoucriere stated. “It must be integrated into the core planning framework for Nigeria’s population, and it must be informed by reliable data—data that pinpoints where the most vulnerable children are and identifies their specific needs, whether in clean water, education, healthcare, nutrition, or protection.”
She further lamented the situation in Lagos, observing, “Education is still predominantly self-financed by schools and families. Where is the governmental investment in securing children's futures and ensuring they receive a fair start in life?”
According to UNICEF, approximately 54 per cent of Nigerian children live in multidimensional poverty, lacking access to at least three of seven essential areas: nutrition, healthcare, education, water, sanitation, housing, and information. The report further revealed stark disparities between rural and urban areas, with 65.7 per cent of rural children affected compared to 28.4 per cent in urban settings.