The Federal Government has said that Nigeria has made giant strides in the promotion of the rights of children across the country and in ensuring their good fare through the domestication and adoption of the Child Rights Act, (CRA) and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, (VAPPA).
Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan stated this in a statement marking the Universal Children’s Day themed ‘Advancing Children’s Rights for a Sustainable Future’, yesterday in Abuja.
Highlighting the progress made by the government, she said the domestication of the CRA 2003, across all the states in Nigeria, remains a pivotal step toward protecting Nigerian children.
The minister said, “To date, all 36 states in Nigeria have adopted this vital legislation, marking a significant step in protecting children’s rights under the Nigerian Constitution.”
Hajiya Sulaiman-Ibrahim also said the VAPP Act 2015, is another major policy taken by the federal government to ensure the welfare and safety of every child in Nigeria because the Act has strengthened policies to shield children from abuse, violence, and exploitation, reinforcing Nigeria’s stance against all forms of harm toward its youngest citizens.
She adds that Nigeria’s commitment to the Maputo Protocol signals yet another bold action by the government to combat violence against children through legislative reviews, enhanced policies, and comprehensive child protection frameworks.
She said other efforts by the government include investment in safe education through the National Plan for Financing Safe Schools, where over 112 billion Naira has been allocated to safeguard learning environments over the next three years, ensuring that schools remain safe and inclusive spaces for all children.
Despite the effort, however, she said the government is aware of persisting challenges and is not resting on its oars in professing lasting solutions.
“I therefore call for collective action from parents, educators, policymakers, traditional rulers, and community leaders to address critical issues such as child labor, trafficking, harmful cultural practices, and barriers to inclusive education,” she said.
She assured that her ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders, will continue to champion inclusive, equitable education, especially for girls and children in underserved communities, promote family-centered interventions to create supportive and safe household environments and conduct programs to challenge harmful societal norms, such as child marriage and female genital mutilation.
The Guardian
