The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has commended the federal government for its swift rescue of 39 abducted pupils and five teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, describing the operation as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to protecting children affected by insecurity.

 

UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell, gave the commendation on Thursday during a courtesy visit to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at the State House, Abuja, where she also praised the administration’s growing investments in child protection, birth registration, education and women’s empowerment.

 

Russell said the successful rescue of the schoolchildren underscored the importance of placing children’s safety at the centre of national security efforts, noting that children remain among the most vulnerable victims of conflict and violence worldwide.

 

“We are pleased to remain a partner, helping as much as possible. We thank the leadership for rescuing the children,” she said.

 

Reflecting on UNICEF’s work across conflict zones, Russell said children often suffer the gravest consequences of insecurity.

 

“What I see in my travels around the world is that conflict is one of the most difficult situations for children. Whether it is displacement, violence, abductions or any other form of insecurity, children need to be protected.”

 

She described investment in women and children as one of the most effective ways to secure a nation’s future.

 

“I think investing in women and children is an investment in the future of the nation,” she added.

 

Beyond the rescue operation, the UNICEF chief commended Senator Tinubu for using the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) to champion programmes that improve the wellbeing of women and children across the country.

 

She particularly applauded the First Lady’s advocacy for birth registration, which has contributed to the registration of about 14 million Nigerian children over the past two years.

 

According to Russell, ensuring that every child has a legal identity is fundamental to guaranteeing access to education, healthcare and other essential social services.

 

“As Nigeria continues to advance, this is an important moment to invest in children. I want to commend the leadership and the Renewed Hope Initiative for prioritising birth registration.

 

“Birth registration is one of the most important investments because it guarantees children’s identity and secures their future.”

 

Russell also acknowledged the First Lady’s leadership in the campaign against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), describing the initiative as another significant contribution to protecting the rights and welfare of Nigerian girls.

 

Responding, Senator Oluremi Tinubu welcomed the UNICEF delegation and expressed appreciation for the organisation’s consistent partnership with Nigeria, particularly during difficult periods.

 

She said the Office of the First Lady complements the work of relevant ministries by mobilising advocacy and support for programmes that directly improve the lives of women, children and vulnerable groups.

 

“We are used to UNICEF partnering with our office through advocacy because we know that ministries have their statutory responsibilities, while the work of the First Lady is to complement and support those efforts,” she said.

 

The First Lady said she was delighted by the safe return of the abducted pupils, describing their rescue as encouraging for families and communities affected by insecurity.

 

She stressed that sustainable national development depends on deliberate investment in children.

 

“I agree with you that children are very important in any country because they determine the future development of that country.

 

“When children are not properly invested in, no matter how wealthy a country may be, it will not achieve sustainable growth. With my background as a teacher, I have always believed that we must invest in our children.”

 

Senator Tinubu acknowledged the challenges posed by Nigeria’s large population and the plight of children living in conflict-affected communities, saying government remains committed to expanding access to education and social protection.

 

She identified the growing number of out-of-school children, particularly Almajiri children, as a major concern and disclosed that efforts were underway to integrate them into formal education while equipping them with vocational and life skills through specialised learning programmes.

 

She reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with development partners such as UNICEF to ensure that every Nigerian child has access to quality education, healthcare, legal identity and adequate protection.

 

Members of the UNICEF delegation included the Country Representative, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef; Chief of Staff, Ted Mary; Senior Adviser on Communication, Marlene Jensen; Head of Project, Marline Serrano; and Executive Specialist, Nabila Jamshed.