The Nigerian Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, says protecting children is more than a policy directive rather, it is a moral obligation.
Speaking at the Launch of the Community Children’s Fund, themed; “Advancing Africa’s Agenda For Children 2040: Protecting Street Connected Children in West Africa,” held at SAOS University of London, recently, she emphasized the urgent need for collective action to tackle the alarming rise of child vulnerability, particularly among street-connected children in Nigeria and across the West African region.
She highlighted harrowing statistics that illustrate the precarious conditions millions of children face, including violence, displacement, child labour, malnutrition, and a lack of access to education.
“I stand before you not just as a Minister but as a mother who understands the deep responsibility of protecting and nurturing our children. The plight of vulnerable children across Africa is not just a policy concern but a moral obligation that demands immediate and sustained action,” she stated
The Minister opined that for progress to be made, three key issues have to be tackled.
Issues such as; ”Strengthening policy frameworks to enforce child rights and protection laws across African nations; Scaling up socio-economic investments in education, healthcare, and family empowerment; Eliminating harmful practices such as child marriage and gender-based violence; Ensuring community ownership of child welfare initiatives”.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim further called for coordinated efforts to safeguard the future of African children, warning that neglect and systemic failures would only deepen existing cycles of poverty and inequality.
She underscored Nigeria’s commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, highlighting key national pledges such as: Supporting two million children at risk of violence by 2030; Enforcing a ban on corporal punishment in schools by 2028; Establishing a National Child Protection and Wellbeing Index by 2025; Investing ₦112.18 billion in the National Plan for Financing Safe Schools from 2024-2026.
She urged the global community to step up funding for child-centered programs, lamenting that less than 2% of humanitarian and development budgets currently go toward child protection initiatives.
“The time for action is now. We have talked enough—now, we must act. We must move beyond short-term fixes and commit to long-term, transformational solutions to secure a better future for Africa’s children,” she stated.
The launch of the Community Children’s Fund marks a major milestone in Africa’s journey toward fulfilling the African Union’s Agenda 2040 for Children’s Rights and Well-being, ensuring that every African child is protected, empowered, and given the opportunity to thrive.
End To Violence Against Women, Others
In another development, the Minister condemned the recent killings, sexual abuses, violence perpetrated against women, children and vulnerable groups in the country, saying Enough is Enough.
In a statement signed by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Jonathan Eze, on Monday in Abuja, the Minister also promised to, among others, strengthen national response for social protection of women, children, and other vulnerable groups in Nigeria.
According to Mr Eze, the Minister is deeply disturbed by the increasing cases of sexual assault, physical violence, emotional abuse, child trafficking and online exploitation of morals within schools, homes and communities.
“Enough is Enough! Violence against women and children must be stopped with immediate effect.
” We have a moral and legal obligation to protect our women, children, and other vulnerable groups from all forms of abuse and violence.
“The reports of violence against children are not only heartbreaking but also a grave violation of their fundamental rights. Every child deserves to live in a safe, secure and nurturing environment free from fear, violence, and abuse.
“Schools, homes, and communities should be sanctuaries and not places of torment.
“We are therefore taking immediate, decisive, and drastic action against all perpetrators of these acts as crimes of this nature violate the very essence of our societal values.
“We are working in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to review existing legislations, including the Child Rights Act of 2003 and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 (VAAP), to introduce severe penalties for offenders and ensure stronger enforcement” while developing the National Social Protection Policy to enhance protection frameworks and institutionalize comprehensive strategies for national safeguards.
“The Ministry has also activated all available child protection mechanisms and is working very closely with justice actors, law enforcement, and all stakeholders to strengthen coordination in addressing these crimes.
“Furthermore, the Ministry is focused on establishing the necessary reporting mechanisms and crisis management centers to help citizens recognize, report, and seek help from abuse through helplines, school-based programs, psycho-social support, and community sensitization initiatives.
“We believe in a holistic approach to prevention and intervention, and we are committed to creating a safer environment for our women, children and vulnerable citizens.”
Sulaiman-Ibrahim added that with the strong backing of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has committed to a zero-tolerance policy on violence, the Ministry is accelerating efforts to ensure that the protection of women, children, and vulnerable groups remains a top priority in Nigeria.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda is built on equity, justice, and protection for all citizens. We call on all Nigerians to join us in this crucial fight to eradicate violence and all forms of abuse from our society.”
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