Nigeria’s worsening child welfare indicators require urgent and coordinated action, stakeholders warned on Tuesday at a high-level symposium convened by UNICEF, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME).
The forum, which brought together representatives from UNICEF, key government ministries, media executives, and civil society groups, raised concerns over widening disparities in children’s access to clean water, quality education, healthcare, and protection, especially amid rising insecurity and declining social services.
President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Eze Anaba, said Nigeria is effectively in a “state of emergency” regarding child welfare, citing the escalating threats to children’s safety and development.
“If we did not know before, we should know now. At no other time in our history, except during the Civil War, has the condition of our children been this uncertain,” he said.
Anaba lamented that Nigeria now has the world’s highest number of out-of-school children, warning that deteriorating indicators are undermining the country’s human capital prospects. He urged journalists to prioritise evidence-based reporting on child rights and protection issues.
“These are not mere statistics. They are the lived experiences of children whose dreams and our country’s future are being derailed,” he said.
“The media is not a passive observer. It is an active participant in shaping public consciousness. We must amplify the voices of the voiceless, use verifiable data, and embrace solution-based investigative journalism.”
UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Ms. Wafa Saeed, said millions of children remain unvaccinated, while acute malnutrition persists at alarming levels. She noted that three out of four Nigerian children aged 10 cannot read and understand a simple text, an indicator of learning poverty.
She called for full implementation of the Safe School Declaration to protect children from attacks and disruptions.
“Nigeria has made progress for children over the last two decades, but at the current pace, it will take far too long to reach acceptable results. We must accelerate efforts, too many children are still being left behind,” Saeed said.
“What encourages me is that we know what works: routine immunisation, quality education, nutrition, and protection. When we invest in these areas, we save lives and build the foundation for a stronger future for every Nigerian child.”
Also speaking, the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Lagos, Mr. Michel Deelen, described the state of many Nigerian schools as unacceptable, noting widespread shortages of roofs, water, sanitation facilities, and teachers.
“As long as schools are not functioning the way they should without roofs, water, and teachers we cannot say things are getting better,” Deelen said. “Education is the engine of national progress, and it must work everywhere in Nigeria.”
He reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting UNICEF’s interventions.
“The future is bright because the Nigerian child is brilliant and full of potential. Our responsibility, working with UNICEF and the government, is to help create the environment where that potential can truly flourish.”
Fresh data presented by UNICEF Deputy Country Representative Ms. Ronak Nkan underscored the vast regional disparities: while almost 90 percent of households in Lagos have access to safe water, only 3 percent do in Kebbi State.
The symposium ended with a call for urgent investment, stronger political will, and improved coordination to ensure Nigerian children receive the protection, care, and opportunities they deserve.
