Former Nigerian Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has issued a strongly worded public statement accusing the country's political leadership of failing children. In a post shared on X on Wednesday, May 27, she directed her message at President Bola Tinubu, the Vice President, governors, federal lawmakers, and state assemblies, warning them against issuing 'Happy Children's Day' greetings.
Ezekwesili Calls Out Leaders Over Child Welfare
Ezekwesili argued that government officials have no moral basis to celebrate Nigerian children while many remain victims of insecurity, school attacks, and poor access to education. She referenced multiple past and recent school abductions across states including Oyo, Kebbi, Niger, Kaduna, and Sokoto, as well as the unresolved Chibok girls' abduction.
'Do not dare open your mouths on May 27 to wish Nigerian children a Happy Children's Day,' she wrote. 'Do not dare release the recycled, ghost-written platitudes your media handlers have already drafted. Do not dare stand in front of cameras, surrounded by carefully arranged children in matching uniforms, to perform a tenderness you have never extended to the millions of Nigerian children you have abandoned.'
Demands for Accountability
The former minister also criticized government policies and spending priorities, arguing that public resources have not translated into safer schools, improved education, or better protection for children. She highlighted issues such as child mortality, malnutrition, and street hawking as signs of systemic failure.
Ezekwesili said that if officials must speak on Children's Day, they should instead account for missing children, publish accurate data on education and child welfare, and outline urgent, measurable actions to address the crisis rather than issuing celebratory messages. She described the situation as a 'national shame' and insisted that any celebration without accountability would be an insult to affected families.
'You have not earned the right to speak to our children today,' she concluded. 'Don't you dare. Period.'
