Follow Us on Google
By Chinenye Anuforo
Nigeria is facing a deepening child welfare crisis as a new UNICEF report showed that two out of every three Nigerian children now live in multidimensional poverty, lacking access to education, healthcare, nutrition, clean water or protection.
The Nigerian Child 2025 Report, released in Lagos on Tuesday, revealed that despite isolated gains in health and education, childhood in Nigeria remains defined by widespread deprivation, deep inequality and systemic failures affecting nearly half of the country’s population.
According to the report, Nigeria’s child population has risen to 98 million, many of whom face overlapping crises ranging from malnutrition and vaccine gaps to violence, early marriage, displacement and climate shocks. UNICEF warned these challenges are eroding the foundations required for children to survive, learn and thrive. One of the report’s most alarming findings is that Nigeria now has the highest number of “zero-dose” children globally those who have never received a single vaccine, leaving millions at risk of preventable diseases such as measles, cholera and polio. Despite progress over the years, one in nine children still dies before the age of five, mostly from illnesses that could be prevented with basic healthcare.
The report showed that Nigeria ranks first in Africa for the highest number of malnourished children. Two in five children under five are stunted, while millions suffer from wasting. Conflict, displacement, climate disruptions and poor feeding practices are worsening hunger, especially in the North-East and North-West. Education indicators remain distressing, with an estimated 10.2 million children out of school, while many of those in classrooms struggle with basic literacy and numeracy. Girls remain disproportionately affected due to early marriage, domestic labour and restrictive cultural norms. Violence against children is widespread, with more than half experiencing physical, emotional or sexual abuse before age 18. Nigeria also leads Africa in child marriage, with over 23 million girls married before adulthood.
Other News
The findings were central to discussions at the World Children’s Day Media Symposium in Lagos, organised by UNICEF, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME). UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Ms. Wafaa Saeed, urged journalists to use storytelling, accountability reporting and public dialogue to drive national response, saying the data reveals millions of children being left behind but also points to where progress is possible. She noted that the media can shift national perception by portraying children not as statistics but as individuals with strength, rights and potential.
President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Eze Anaba, emphasised the media’s responsibility to keep child welfare at the centre of national attention, noting that editors determine what the nation prioritises and must ensure that the struggles and aspirations of Nigerian children are given the visibility they deserve. Chairman of DAME, Mr. Lanre Idowu, added that quality journalism can save children’s lives by prompting accountability and triggering solutions when the press questions why children are out of school or why health centres fail.
A panel session moderated by Dr. Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor, brought together government officials, UNICEF representatives and media leaders to examine how prepared Nigeria is to equip its young population for the future. Speakers stressed the need to translate policies into real community impact, strengthen child protection systems, challenge harmful practices and collaborate more closely with the media to promote ethical reporting and keep child welfare at the centre of national priorities.
The event concluded with a call for Nigerian media organisations to establish Child Rights Desks, deepen partnerships with development agencies, amplify children’s voices and prioritise evidence-based journalism that highlights both challenges and solutions. UNICEF cautioned that without urgent reforms, millions of Nigerian children will continue to face limited opportunities, weakened health and persistent poverty, a trajectory that threatens not only their futures but also Nigeria’s long-term stability and development.
