UNICEF Urges Stronger Protection for Children in North-East Nigeria on World Children’s Day

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised concerns over the ongoing risks faced by children in North-East Nigeria, highlighting challenges such as malnutrition, lack of education, and gender-based violence.

Speaking in Maiduguri on Thursday during the 2025 World Children’s Day commemoration, Joseph Senesie, Officer-in-Charge of the UNICEF Maiduguri Field Office, called for increased investment in children’s rights, particularly in the areas of protection and education.

Senesie noted that this year’s theme, “My Day, My Rights,” underscores the importance of guaranteeing every child’s rights to life, health, education, and protection.

“Children in North-East Nigeria face severe risks, including malnutrition, being out of school, and gender-based violence,” he said. “This theme is a call to action to recognise and safeguard these rights.”

He highlighted UNICEF-supported interventions in the region, including access to formal and non-formal basic education for over 250,000 children in Borno State in 2025, vitamin A supplementation for nearly 1.2 million children aged six to 59 months, and gender-based violence prevention services reaching 86,000 women, girls, and boys. Additionally, UNICEF, with donor and government support, provided 33 schools and health centres with basic water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities.

Senesie urged stakeholders to intensify efforts to support vulnerable children, emphasizing that protecting them today is essential for long-term regional stability. “We must continue to collaborate and support those affected by conflict, displacement, and poverty,” he said, reaffirming UNICEF’s commitment to ensuring that every child in the North-East “survives, thrives, and fulfils their potential.”

Borno State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, echoed the commitment, stating that the state government under Governor Babagana Umara Zulum is dedicated to translating children’s rights from policy into reality.

As part of the commemoration, a symbolic exercise saw 16-year-old visually impaired student Precious Joseph from Maiduguri Special School serve as Borno State Commissioner for Women Affairs for a day. Precious expressed gratitude for the opportunity and pledged to focus on ending street begging and ensuring school enrolment for children with disabilities. “I appreciate UNICEF and the Borno State government for providing an enabling environment for children with disabilities to thrive,” she said.