President Bola Tinubu has unveiled sweeping reforms aimed at curbing bullying, cyberbullying, and other forms of violence against children in Nigerian schools, declaring that no child should be made to grow or learn in fear.
In his message to commemorate the 2025 Children’s Day celebration on Tuesday, the President described Nigerian children as the “pride and future of our great nation,” and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting their rights, dignity, and dreams.
“This year’s theme, ‘Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation,’could not have been more timely,” Tinubu said. “Violence, bullying, and neglect have no place in the Nigeria of today.”
Citing alarming statistics, the President disclosed that while more than one in three children globally experience bullying, up to 65% of Nigerian school-age children have reported facing physical, psychological, or social aggression.
“A child who learns in fear cannot learn well. A child who grows in fear cannot grow right. This is unacceptable,” he declared.
To address the crisis, President Tinubu announced a series of targeted measures under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including the full implementation of the National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children (2024–2030). The plan outlines a comprehensive strategy to prevent abuse, prosecute offenders, and support victims, with robust financing and cross-sector collaboration.
The President also revealed plans for a comprehensive review of the Child Rights Act (2003) and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (2015) to close existing gaps, expand protection for children, and ensure enforcement across all 36 states.
“We are leveraging the Cybercrime Act to protect children from cyberbullying, online exploitation, and abuse. Every Nigerian child deserves to feel safe — online and offline,” he said.
President Tinubu also launched a nationwide ‘See Something, Say Something, Do Something’ campaign to promote vigilance in homes, schools, and communities, calling on Nigerians to become child protection champions.
He acknowledged progress in child rights legislation, noting that all 36 states have domesticated the Child Rights Act, but said legal frameworks alone were not enough.
“We require a holistic approach where parents, teachers, caregivers, faith leaders, lawmakers, and citizens must take ownership,” the President stated.
Additional measures announced include the expansion of the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS) to enable real-time tracking of abuse cases; the strengthening of community-based child protection mechanisms by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs; and the integration of child safeguarding and social-emotional learning into teacher training programmes.
On education, Tinubu affirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusive learning through the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children, as well as the development of school safety guidelines under the National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools.
The President further disclosed investments in child and maternal healthcare, highlighting the scale-up of Mother and Child Hospitals across the six geopolitical zones, and the creation of a new Department of Nutrition to oversee child-focused programmes such as the Nutrition 774 Project and the School Feeding Scheme.
“We are finalising a national Child Wellbeing Index to measure progress, track gaps, and hold ourselves accountable,” Tinubu added.
Addressing children directly, he said: “You matter. Your dreams matter. Your voices matter. No one has the right to hurt, silence, or diminish you. If you are bullied or harmed, speak up—you will be heard and protected.”
The President concluded with a call to States yet to fully act on child welfare: “Our children are not just statistics—they are the heart of our nation. Let today mark a renewed movement to build a Nigeria where no child suffers in silence, no child is left behind, and every child grows in dignity, peace, and love.”
