The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed concern over the growing insecurity affecting children in Nigeria, warning that fear and attacks on schools are depriving many young people of their right to play and develop in a safe environment.
Speaking at the commemoration of the 2026 International Day of Play held at the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in Maryland, Ikeja, the Chief of UNICEF Field Office in Lagos, Celine Lafoucriere, lamented that many children across the country were unable to enjoy a normal childhood due to insecurity and inadequate learning conditions.
Lafoucriere noted that children had recently been abducted from schools in Borno, Niger, Kebbi and, more recently, Oyo State, with some of the victims yet to reunite with their families. She said the disturbing trend had turned schools, which ought to be safe spaces for learning and growth, into places of fear for both pupils and parents.
According to her, millions of children are being denied the opportunity to play because of overcrowded classrooms, lack of recreational facilities and the prevailing insecurity that discourages school attendance.
She stressed that play is not merely a leisure activity but an essential part of a child’s development, saying it contributes to cognitive growth, creativity and social interaction in ways that formal classroom exercises alone cannot achieve.
“Play is not a reward for finishing work. Play is the work. No child should be denied that, not by overcrowded classrooms and certainly not by anyone with a gun,” she said.
The UNICEF official called on governments, parents, journalists and other stakeholders to prioritise the safety and well-being of children, stressing that no child can learn effectively without feeling safe. She urged collective action to ensure that every Nigerian child has the opportunity to learn, play and reach their full potential.
