The Director for Women and Children at the United Nations POLAC, Amb. Prof. Cynthia Amaka Obiorah, has urged Nigerian leaders and citizens to move beyond speeches and take concrete action to protect children, warning that millions of young Nigerians still face hunger, abuse, displacement and lack of access to education.

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In her 2026 Children’s Day message, Prof. Obiorah lamented the harsh realities confronting many children across the country, including girls forced out of school, children displaced by conflict, and minors struggling to survive on the streets.

She said no Nigerian child should be denied the basic rights of safety, healthcare, education and dignity.

The founder of the Hope Aglow Charity Foundation described Nigerian children as “brilliant, resilient and full of dreams,” despite the mounting social and economic challenges facing families nationwide.

She stressed that government, parents, faith leaders, civil society organisations and traditional institutions must urgently work together to secure a better future for the younger generation.

Obiorah, however, expressed optimism about the future of the country, saying hope remains alive in children who continue to pursue their ambitions despite hardship.

According to her, many young Nigerians are already using technology, creativity and innovation to develop solutions for their communities and shape a better nation.

She pledged that the United Nations POLAC, through its Directorate for Women and Children, would continue advocating for the protection and empowerment of children across the country.

She also called for increased investment in schools, child protection laws, healthcare and nutrition, insisting that “when we lift the child, we lift Nigeria.”