President Bola Tinubu has announced plans to establish a Child Protection and Development Agency to coordinate all issues affecting Nigerian children, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to protecting their dignity and future

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]resident Bola Tinubu has announced plans to establish a Child Protection and Development Agency to provide a coordinated approach to addressing all issues affecting Nigerian children.

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Tinubu made the announcement on Thursday during the first regional meeting of the Africa Pathfinder Countries of the Global Alliance on Ending Violence Against Children, held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The President was represented at the event by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Tinubu emphasized that his administration is taking concrete steps to protect the dignity and future of every Nigerian child.

“Our legal frameworks reflect our conviction. From the Child Rights Act to the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, Nigeria has laid down the statutory foundation for the protection of children,” Tinubu stated.

He stressed that legislation alone is insufficient to protect vulnerable children, highlighting the crucial role of the will to enforce these laws and the systems that implement them.

“But legislation alone does not shield the vulnerable — it is the will behind those laws, and the systems that enforce them, that make the difference.”

Tinubu also highlighted the administration’s focus on prevention and early intervention. “That is why our national strategy also embraces prevention and early intervention.

We are strengthening families and communities through programmes that promote positive parenting, challenge harmful social norms, and provide targeted support to vulnerable households.”

However, he called for honesty in acknowledging that more than rhetoric is needed. “But we must be honest with ourselves. We cannot protect the child by merely reciting the anthems of their struggles or romanticising their vulnerability,” Tinubu said.

He asserted that real hope lies in concrete, deliberate action. “Our commitment must run deep, reaching into the very architecture of our education and health systems. This is the soul of our human capital development strategy.”

Tinubu stressed the importance of ensuring every Nigerian child has the opportunity to grow and learn in a safe environment.

“We aim to ensure that every Nigerian child has the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive in a safe and nurturing environment. This is not simply a policy objective; it is a moral obligation.”

He outlined specific measures being taken, including investing in safe schools, embedding socio-emotional learning into the national curriculum, and rolling out the National Guidelines on Alternative Care.

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“We are investing in safe schools and embedding socio-emotional learning into our national curriculum. We are rolling out the National Guidelines on Alternative Care to ensure that even children without parental care are raised in love, safety, and stability,” he concluded.