UNICEF Urges Government to Strengthen Child Protection as FG Unveils 2026 Theme on Inclusion, Family Strengthening
By Ayeeshat J. Ahmad
The Federal Government has unveiled “Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child” as the official theme for the 2026 National Children’s Day celebration, with UNICEF calling for stronger action to protect children and support adolescent girls across the country.
The announcement was made in Abuja by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, during activities marking preparations for the 2026 Children’s Day celebration.
According to the minister, the 2026 celebration aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of 2026 as the “Year of Families and Social Development,” emphasizing the importance of inclusion, family support, and child protection in national development.
She explained that the theme reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian child is included and protected regardless of age, disability, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, or geographical location.
Describing Children’s Day as more than a ceremonial event, the minister said children constitute over 40 per cent of Nigeria’s population, making their welfare central to the country’s future growth and stability.
“It is not merely a ceremonial celebration but a national moment of reflection, accountability and renewed commitment toward safeguarding the future of our nation through deliberate investment in our children,” she stated.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim also stressed the importance of strengthening families, describing the home as the child’s first school, source of identity, and foundation of emotional security.
She further noted that Nigeria’s child protection efforts are guided by international and regional agreements, including the 1959 Declaration of the Rights of the Child, the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
“These instruments collectively affirmed that children are not objects of charity but holders of rights and central actors in sustainable development,” the minister added.
Speaking at the event, UNICEF Nigeria Acting Chief of Child Protection, Mona Aika, urged the Federal Government to treat Children’s Day as a moment for accountability and concrete action rather than mere celebration.
She called for stronger child protection measures and greater attention to the voices and experiences of adolescent girls in policy-making and national discussions.
“Their voices should shape the policies, programmes, budgets and community decisions that affect their lives,” Aika said.
She emphasized the need to move from speaking about girls to listening directly to them, noting that adolescent girls must be placed at the centre of development discussions.
UNICEF also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria in strengthening child protection systems and tackling harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation.
In a statement, the organisation said Children’s Day should serve as an opportunity to evaluate efforts toward ensuring that every child is safe, healthy, in school, protected online and offline, and able to reach their full potential.
“UNICEF stands ready to continue supporting the ministry and all partners to ensure that this year’s Children’s Day activities are not just memorable but meaningful towards leading to stronger action for every child, especially every adolescent girl,” the statement added.