The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for urgent and coordinated action to protect Nigerian children from exploitation, trafficking, violence, child labour, and other forms of abuse as Africa marks the 2026 International Day of the African Child.
In a statement signed on Tuesday, 16 June, 2026 by Director of Corporate Affairs and External Linkages at the NHRC, Mrs. Fatimah Mohamed,the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu, stressed that the nation’s future depends on its children and emphasized the need to guarantee them access to quality education in a safe and supportive environment.
Ojukwu urged governments, communities, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to move beyond rhetoric and take practical steps to safeguard the rights, dignity, and development of every child.
He noted that children’s rights are protected under Nigeria’s Constitution, the Child Rights Act, and other domestic laws established to ensure their welfare and development. He also highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to international and regional child protection frameworks, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Union Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
Despite these legal safeguards, Ojukwu lamented that many children continue to face significant challenges, including limited access to education, child labour, trafficking, violence, exploitation, and displacement arising from insecurity and humanitarian crises.
According to him, the NHRC’s Women and Children Department has remained actively engaged in investigating complaints involving violations of children’s rights, while providing support services and referrals for affected children.
The department has also conducted extensive awareness campaigns in schools and communities nationwide, educating children, parents, teachers, and community leaders on child rights and responsibilities to strengthen protection mechanisms and improve enforcement.
The NHRC further disclosed that it has facilitated the rescue of numerous children from situations involving child labour, abuse, neglect, and early or forced marriages. Many of the rescued children, it said, have been reunited with their families, while others received appropriate interventions aimed at ensuring their safety and well-being.
The Commission also reaffirmed its commitment to combating child labour, trafficking, abuse, and other harmful practices through sustained advocacy and efforts to strengthen child protection systems and accountability for rights violations.
Describing education as a critical pillar of child development, the NHRC called for increased investment in safe, inclusive, and quality education, particularly for vulnerable children who remain at risk of exclusion.
As the continent commemorates the International Day of the African Child, the Commission reiterated its commitment to promoting, protecting, and enforcing the rights of every child in Nigeria, while working to ensure that no child is left behind.
