By Doris Obinna
On Monday, June 16, Nigeria joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2025 Day of the African Child (DAC). In Nigeria, the Day of the African Child is seen as a day of reflection, advocacy, and recommitment to improving the lives of children. While awareness is growing, especially among urban youth and non-governmental agencies (NGOs), much work remains in terms of policy implementation and reaching the most vulnerable children.
To mark this day, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) at a media dialogue on “Planning and Spending for Children’s Rights,” called on government leaders at all levels to adopt strategic budgeting measures that guarantee access to clean water, healthcare, nutritious food, and safe environments for the country’s poorest children.
This call to action highlights the need for targeted fiscal planning that directly addresses the basic needs of vulnerable populations, ensuring a healthier, more secure future for Nigeria’s youngest people.
The media dialogue, organised in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Planning and Budget, spotlighted the urgency of ensuring that children are not just included in government financial plans, but that such inclusion is meaningful, measurable, and transformative.
Speaking, Chief, UNICEF’s Field Office for Southwest Nigeria, Celine Lafoucriere, sounded the alarm about a persistent gap between budget allocations and actual benefits received by children across the country. According to her, while there are budgets for child-focused initiatives, the real issue is whether the resources reach the right children and whether their fundamental needs are truly being met.
“Budgeting for children shouldn’t be treated as a separate exercise; it should be embedded in the core planning for Nigeria’s population, guided by concrete data on where the most vulnerable children are, and what their needs are in terms of clean water, education, healthcare, nutrition and protection.”
She revealed ongoing collaboration between UNICEF and the Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning to establish a dedicated budget code system. This framework enables the tracking of every naira spent on child-related programmes in an effort to boost transparency, strengthen accountability, and make budgeting outcomes more visible.
However, Lafoucriere warned that financial commitments must be matched by implementation. “Once the budget is allocated, it must be spent. Lagos and UNICEF are working together on this, but we all know it’s not sufficient,” she stated.
Child’s malnutrition, others still on the high
According to a global nutrition report, child nutrition in Nigeria remains a major concern, with persistent high rates of malnutrition among under-fives: Approximately 32 per cent to 37 per cent of Nigerian children under five are stunted for their age, placing Nigeria among the top two countries globally for this issue .
Latest data describe 37 per cent stunting, that is; 6 million children, over half of whom suffer severe stunting.
Lafoucriere continued: “Despite Nigeria’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child more than three decades ago, indicators such as child malnutrition, school dropouts, and abuse remain high especially in the Southwest.”
Lafoucriere pointed to these concerning trends as evidence of an implementation gap that must be urgently addressed. “In the North, malnutrition is still on the high while, on the other hand, in a place like Lagos; education is still largely self-funded by schools and families. Where is the investment in protecting children, in giving them a fair start in life? These are not luxuries, these are human rights.”
She further challenged media professionals and civil society organisations to keep governments accountable and push for consistent, rights-based advocacy. “The Lagos State Government has a social contract not only with its adult population but with every child. We must remind them of that duty. If children and youth are not prioritised today, then the Lagos of tomorrow is at risk,” Lafoucriere asserted.
On his part, UNICEF’s Programme and Social Policy Manager, Muhammad Okorie, shared insights on the widespread disconnect between budget intentions and actual spending. He noted that while every Nigerian state allocates funding for children, the effectiveness of implementation varies greatly.
“Every state in Nigeria budgets for children in one form or another. But the issue is not just about allocation, it’s about actual spending, equitable distribution, and evidence-based decision-making. Many states may meet or exceed budget benchmarks on paper, but the real test is in what gets implemented and how it impacts children.”
Okorie commended the growing policy alignment across Nigerian states but emphasised that intentions alone won’t bring change. “For a government to be judged seriously about child rights, it must reflect in how it budgets and spends. Until all the rights of all children are fulfilled, we cannot rest. The principle is simple: leave no child behind,” he added.
Value of inclusive budgeting
Okorie underscored the value of inclusive budgeting that factors in both data and the lived experiences of young people. “Children know what they need. When you involve them in decisions, it leads to better outcomes and greater accountability.”
He called for strengthened monitoring frameworks and year-round civic oversight of budget execution. “We shouldn’t wait until the end of the year to ask what was done. From day one, the media, civil society, and the public must track projects, follow the money, and report what they see. Budgeting is not just about money, it’s about the lives of real children, and every naira must speak.”
Lagos State’s Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget (MEPB), Olayinka Ojo, represented by Director Budget, MEPB, Olufemi Orojimi, noted the state’s increasing investment in children over the years.
Orojimi said: “The Lagos State Government recognises that investment in children is an economic driver. It remains committed to increasing budgetary allocations and actual expenditures that promote the survival, development, protection, and participation of every child.
“Early childhood development remains a key focus of the state’s development strategy, acknowledging UNICEF’s support in strengthening data systems and budget transparency.”
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to collaborative advocacy and improved public accountability.
Budget implementation
With Nigeria facing a youth-driven future, UNICEF’s message is clear: ‘true national development begins by protecting the youngest citizens through fair, data-informed, and fully implemented budgets.’
“Anything less risks mortgaging the future of a generation,” says Lafoucriere. While calling all stakeholders to ensure that every Naira spent truly reaches the Nigerian child, she urged the media to amplify child-focused issues, investigate budget implementation, and spotlight areas of underinvestment particularly in sectors such as education, health, WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), and child protection.
Significance of DAC
According to UNICEF, the DAC is observed every year on June 16. It honors the memories of the children who participated in the Soweto Uprising in South Africa in 1976. “On that day, thousands of Black schoolchildren marched to protest the poor quality of their education and the imposition of Afrikaans as the language of instruction. Hundreds were killed, and many more were injured when police opened fire on the protesters.
“It pays tribute to those who died for their rights and highlights the courage of the children who stood up against oppression. It brings attention to the challenges facing children in Africa today, including access to quality education, child protection, health care, and equality.
“Governments, NGOs, and communities use this day to renew their commitments to improving the lives of African children.”