Like Dawn Stretching Gently Across A Waiting Nation, The Child Remains The Clearest Expression Of Tomorrow....Imaan

Nigeria's Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim has described a child like dawn stretching gently across a waiting nation, which remains the clearest expression of tomorrow..

This is as she also said that a child though fragile yet full of promise, innocent yet carrying within them the destiny of a people.

The Minister made the accolades during the  unveilling of  an extensive lineup of programmes for the 2026 National Children’s Day celebration, with a strong call for urgent national action to protect children, amplify their voices and guarantee equal opportunities for every Nigerian child.

The activities which was announced at a ministerial press briefing in Abuja by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.were immediately followed by an interactive dialogue session with children and adolescent girls, underscoring government’s renewed focus on child participation and inclusion.

Declaring the 2026 theme as “Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child,” the Minister said the celebration would serve not only as a national event but also as a platform for accountability, policy reflection and stronger collaboration toward safeguarding the future of Nigerian children.

“Children are not merely beneficiaries of policy, but the living symbol of national continuity, resilience and aspiration,” she said.

Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim announced that this year’s activities would include a Children and Adolescent Girls Interactive Session and “One-Day Honourable Minister” initiative, National Caregivers/Parents-Teachers Summit, Boy-Child Novelty Football Match, National Essay Competition, Science Exhibition, Rally and March Past, Annual Children’s Carnival and the commemoration of World Menstrual Health and Hygiene Day.

She noted that with children accounting for over 45 per cent of Nigeria’s population, investment in child welfare and protection remains critical to national stability and sustainable development.

The minister disclosed that the Federal Government had inaugurated a high-level inter-ministerial committee to review the Child Rights Act, 2003, in response to emerging realities, particularly digital-era threats facing children.

She also highlighted the implementation of the national child protection campaign, “See Something, Say Something, We Do Something,” launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2025 Children’s Day celebration to tackle child abuse, neglect and other issues affecting the children.

"National Children’s Day remains one of Nigeria’s most important national observances dedicated to promoting the survival, protection, development, participation, and wellbeing of every Nigerian child. 

"It is not merely a ceremonial celebration, but a national moment of reflection, accountability, and renewed commitment toward safeguarding the future of our nation through deliberate investment in children.

"With children constituting over 45 per cent of Nigeria’s population, child development and protection cannot be treated as a sectoral issue alone; it is central to national development, social stability, economic growth, and sustainable nation-building.

"Nigeria’s commitment to children is firmly anchored in international, regional, and national legal frameworks, including the" Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959), the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC, 1989), the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (1990), and the Sustainable Development Goals (2015–2030).

The Minister who disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has declared the year 2026 as the Year of Families and Social Development said, "This landmark declaration is both timely and strategic, as it reaffirms the family as the foundational institution for the growth, protection, socialisation, and moral development of every child.

" The family remains the child’s first school, first place of identity, and first environment of emotional security. It is within the family structure that a child first learns values, discipline, empathy, responsibility, respect, and social conduct. Indeed, the family name itself represents more than identity; it embodies heritage, continuity, responsibility, and the moral foundations upon which society is built. 

"A stable family system therefore produces a confident and socially grounded child who is better equipped to contribute meaningfully to national development. She stated

The Minister enumerated some of the achievements of her Ministry which includes , interventions, reforms, and programmes undertaken by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development from May 2025 to date in advancing child protection, child development, inclusion, social welfare, and child participation across Nigeria. 

She disclosed that the  Ministry has continued to provide strategic leadership in the implementation and ongoing review of the Child Rights Act, 2003, through policy reforms, advocacy, institutional strengthening, stakeholder engagement, awareness creation, and coordinated interventions aimed at improving the lives of Nigerian children nationwide.

According to her, "In line with emerging realities and international best practices, the Federal Government inaugurated a high-level Inter-Ministerial Committee to review the Child Rights Act, 2003, in order to strengthen implementation mechanisms, address digital-age threats, and improve child protection systems across all levels of government. 

"The Ministry is also currently coordinating the review and validation of Nigeria’s 5th–8th Combined Periodic Report on the Implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, while simultaneously reviewing the National Child Policy and other child-related frameworks. 

"One of the landmark child protection initiatives undertaken by the Federal Government was the launch of the national campaign titled: “See Something, Say Something, We Do Something Declared by His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, during the 2025 National Children’s Day Celebration, the campaign serves as a national call to action against violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, and all forms of harm against children.

" Following the Presidential declaration, the Ministry developed a national implementation framework and commenced multi-sectoral stakeholder engagements aimed at strengthening reporting mechanisms, referral pathways, public awareness, and community responsibility toward safeguarding children. 

She called on all partners to key into very critical initiative., saying , "Mr Presdient has also approved the Universal Child Benefits as a safety net for the most vulnerable Nigerian Children. 

 "The Ministry has also intensified implementation of the “Future Now Initiative,” a forward-looking programme designed to equip Nigerian children with digital literacy, STEM education, innovation exposure, artificial intelligence awareness, and future-ready skills required for participation in an increasingly digital global economy.

"Through strategic partnerships with development agencies, the private sector, and relevant institutions, the initiative is also addressing online exploitation, digital exclusion, and technology access gaps affecting vulnerable children. 

"In collaboration with UNICEF and other stakeholders, the Ministry is further developing a National Child Benefit Grant Framework targeted at vulnerable children and households through child-sensitive social protection, nutrition support, family strengthening, and poverty reduction interventions.