President Bola Tinubu has spoken out firmly against child bullying, using this year’s Children’s Day celebration to advocate for safer and more supportive spaces for young Nigerians.
In a heartfelt message delivered on Tuesday, the president highlighted the theme of this year’s celebration — “Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation” — as a timely reminder of the responsibility to protect children and make them feel heard.
“We must create a world — online and offline — where every child feels safe, valued, and empowered,” Tinubu said. “Bullying, violence, and neglect have no place in the Nigeria we’re building.”
The statistics are sobering. Around one in three children worldwide face bullying regularly. In Nigeria, it’s even worse — studies show that as many as 65% of school-age children have been subjected to physical, emotional, or social abuse. “A child who lives in fear cannot thrive,” the president noted. “Fear stifles learning. It hinders growth.”
Tinubu emphasized that the government is taking serious steps to turn things around. He described children as the “heartbeat of our country’s future,” and shared some of the actions being taken to protect them. Among them is the rollout of the National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children (2024–2030), which outlines how to prevent abuse, support victims, and hold offenders accountable — all backed by proper funding and cooperation across sectors.
He also pointed out that all 36 states have now adopted the Child Rights Act, reflecting a growing national commitment to safeguarding the well-being of every child. Still, he stressed that legislation isn’t enough on its own.
“It takes more than laws — it takes all of us,” he said. “Parents, teachers, religious leaders, lawmakers, and communities must come together to uphold the rights of our children.”
President Tinubu ended his message with a passionate call for action: “I applaud the states making strides for our children’s welfare and urge the rest not to wait any longer. Our children aren’t just part of the population — they are the soul of this country. Let today be the beginning of a louder, stronger movement to ensure no child suffers in silence, no child is forgotten, and every child grows up with dignity, love, and peace.”
