Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for increased investment in education as Nigeria celebrates Children's Day, which coincides with Eid-ul-Adha. He emphasized that the future of every child depends on the decisions and sacrifices made by parents and political leaders today.
Atiku's Call for Education Investment
In a statement from his Media Office in Abuja, Atiku reiterated his famous quote, "Education is the bedrock of a nation," reminding leaders that investing in the younger generation's education is the only path to a secure future. He urged parents and leaders to keep children safe in schools and engage them with books and dreams.
"When we teach a child to read, we give them a voice. When we help them to learn, we give them power. Let's build and uplift individuals, families, communities and the entire nation by giving them voice and power through investments in their education," Atiku said.
Experts Warn of Online Harms
Public health experts raised concerns over the growing scale of online harms affecting Nigerian children. During a Children's Day webinar organized by Gatefield and Cece Yara Child Advocacy Foundation, experts urged the Senate to pass the Child Online Protection Bill (HB244).
Shirley Ewang, Team Lead at Gatefield, presented a paper titled 'Children Caught in the Web,' citing NCC data showing that 89% of children have been exposed to unsolicited sexual content online. She warned that weak platform safeguards and gaps in existing laws leave minors vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, and harassment.
"When harms are exposed in local contexts, and there are no local moderators to understand the language and culture, harmful content slips through," Ewang said.
Kidnappings Threaten Nigeria's Future
The Amazing Grace Children Rights Foundation (AGCRF) described incessant attacks on schools and kidnappings of students as a dangerous trend mortgaging the country's future. Founder Grace Adeyemi noted that over 100 students had been kidnapped in May alone, including 47 from schools in Oyo State and roughly 50 in Borno State.
In a statement titled 'Nigeria's Future in Captivity', Adeyemi warned that recurring violence instills deep fear in children and educators, stripping them of the peace of mind required to attend school. AGCRF called on the government to secure the immediate release of captive children and address the insecurity crisis.
