President Bola Tinubu, on the 2025 National Children’s Day yesterday, delivered a message to Nigerian children, reaffirming his administration’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding their rights, well-being, and future under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Addressing the nation, Tinubu described children as “the pride and future of our great nation,” the heartbeat of Nigeria’s destiny, and the custodians of its promise.

The 2025 celebration is anchored on the theme: “Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation.” President Tinubu underscored the urgency of the theme, stating, “Violence, bullying, and neglect have no place in the Nigeria of today.”

Citing statistics, he noted that up to 65 per cent of school-age children in Nigeria have experienced some forms of aggression, a reality he described as “unacceptable.”

President Tinubu highlighted policy measures being implemented by his administration to combat violence against children, including the full rollout of the National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children (2024–2030) and the review of the Child Rights Act (2003) and Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (2015) to ensure stronger protection and enforcement nationwide.

The President further announced the scale-up of the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS) and praised the 36 states that have domesticated the Child Rights Act. He, however, noted that laws alone were insufficient and called for a “holistic approach” involving parents, teachers, faith leaders, and all citizens.

A key feature of this year’s celebration was the launch of the “See Something, Say Something, Do Something” campaign, a nationwide drive to galvanise public involvement in child protection efforts.

IN her message to commemorate the day, the wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, called on Nigerians to unite in building a nation, where every child would be protected, valued, and free from the threat of bullying.

Delivering her goodwill message to children across the country, the First Lady extended warm wishes and expressed her affection to young citizens, whom she described as “the light of our future and the hope of generations to come.”

Children’s Day 2025 was marked nationwide with parades, awareness campaigns, school events, and cultural celebrations, all focused on promoting child safety and inclusion.

She highlighted the dangers of bullying, whether in schools, homes, communities or online, emphasising its harmful effects on children’s emotional, social, and academic development.

“Every child deserves to grow up in an environment that is safe, supportive, and free from fear,” she said.