Founder of Seyifara Foundation, a non-profit organisation, Oluwaseyi Adediran, and a member of its Board of Trustees, Adediran Adeniran, have passionately appealed to federal and state governments, along with other stakeholders, to urgently address the deteriorating conditions of children in Nigeria.

The duo emphasised that among all pressing issues, particular focus should be placed on meeting the needs of children and ensuring not only their safety but also their future.

Speaking during a donation visit to He Careth Orphanage & Motherless Home in Ibadan, Adediran and Adeniran warned that the continued neglect of Nigerian children’s needs could jeopardise the country’s future.

“Nigeria has one of the world’s largest child populations, with nearly 100 million under the age of 18. Yet, millions face poverty, poor education, malnutrition, abuse, and displacement due to conflict and economic instability,” they said.

Citing UNICEF data, the foundation noted that over 10 million Nigerian children are out of school, the highest number globally while one in three suffers from chronic malnutrition. Many also lack access to healthcare, clean water, and legal protection.

They described the state of education as alarming, noting that despite the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act of 2004, implementation remains weak due to poor funding, teacher shortages, and outdated curricula.

Referencing the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), they also highlighted high under-five mortality rates and the prevalence of preventable diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, and pneumonia.

While commending Lagos and Oyo states for efforts to tackle child abuse, the foundation called for broader action to protect children from exploitation and trafficking.

They urged governments to prioritise children in development plans, recommending that at least 15 per cent of yearly budgets be allocated to education and another 10–15 per cent to health and social protection.

Nigeria’s children, over 100 million under the age of 18, are the foundation of the country’s future. Yet, millions face hunger, lack of education, poor healthcare, violence, and displacement. Addressing the needs of Nigerian children is not just a moral duty but an urgent national priority for sustainable development and security.

Identifying some key challenges facing children, the duo lamented the existence of over 10 million out-of-school children, especially in the North, and expressed concern over high child mortality rates, malnutrition, and inadequate health infrastructure.

They also stressed the need for Nigeria to enact and enforce strict laws to combat widespread child labour, trafficking, and abuse, adding that the majority of Nigerian children live below the poverty line.

According to them, “Thousands of innocent children have been displaced by insurgency, banditry, and communal violence.”

Suggesting solutions, they called on various levels of government to enforce laws guaranteeing free, compulsory basic education, invest in safe schools with qualified teachers and digital resources, and scale up early childhood and girl-child education, particularly in rural areas.

They also urged the government to expand immunisation, nutrition, and child-focused primary healthcare services, and to launch large-scale school feeding programmes.

Furthermore, they advocated for the enforcement of child rights laws to combat early marriage, child labour, and trafficking, and called for increased birth registration to ensure legal identity for every child.