As Nigeria joined the global community to mark the 2025 edition of Children’s Day, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has called on leaders at all levels to take decisive actions to break the cycle of illiteracy, promote peace, and provide a safe and enabling environment for children across the country.
In a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communications, Desmond Utomwen, the presidential aide stressed that the well-being of Nigerian children remains a central pillar of the national development agenda and is critical to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Leaders at all levels must continue to work assiduously to break the shackles of illiteracy, promote peace, and make the world a beautiful place for our children to live in. Our children deserve to grow up in a society where their dreams can blossom, their voices are heard, and their rights are protected,” she said.
Princess Orelope-Adefulire reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to improving the lives and opportunities of children through targeted investments in education, healthcare, and protection programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
She revealed that the Federal Government is expanding access to quality education through school rehabilitation projects, increased funding for basic education, and initiatives aimed at boosting enrolment, especially for the girl child.
Highlighting the efforts of her office, the SSAP-SDGs disclosed that over 12,000 model classroom blocks, digital learning centres, and well-equipped healthcare facilities have been constructed across underserved communities in Nigeria. These efforts, she noted, are in line with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education).
“In partnership with federal and subnational stakeholders, OSSAP-SDGs has delivered integrated interventions to improve learning conditions, promote hygiene and nutrition in schools, and expand access to healthcare for children, particularly in rural areas,” she added.
Orelope-Adefulire also emphasized the importance of capacity-building, advocacy against child abuse, and life skills empowerment to prepare children and adolescents for future leadership and societal impact.
While acknowledging ongoing progress, she raised concerns over the plight of many children still facing poverty, conflict, displacement, and inequality, especially those in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and insurgency-affected regions.
“This year’s celebration should serve as a moment of reflection and renewed commitment to those children whose rights and futures remain under threat. We must redouble our efforts to ensure that no child is left behind, regardless of their circumstances,” she urged.
She called for stronger multi-sectoral partnerships involving government, private sector, civil society, religious institutions, and international development partners to champion child-centred development initiatives.
“There can be no meaningful progress without deliberate and sustained investment in the well-being of our children. The future of Nigeria and the achievement of the SDGs depend on how we nurture today’s young generation,” she stated.
Orelope-Adefulire encouraged Nigerian children to remain hopeful, focused, and committed to their dreams, assured them of the government’s dedication to building a peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous country where every child can thrive.
