FG launches National Action Plan on Violence Against Children

By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.

At the closing sessions of the two – day of the First Regional Meeting of the Pathfinding African countries of the Global Alliance on Ending Violence Against Children in Africa, the day one of the two day held, Wednesday, 7th May, 2025 at the Transcorp Hilton, Hotel, Abuja and the day two held at the State House, Banquet Hall Presidential Villa, Abuja, On Thursday, May 8, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, ably represented by the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima launched National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Children In Nigeria.

Standard – Times Nigeria reports that the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, in his keynote address, with a quote from

According to the Vice President, “They are the sons and daughters of lives ranging from itself. That truth pointed as it sounds, returns to hound us every time we look away from the voices on a child’s body or the temple in their voice or the silence that breeds their unmade needs.

“Each day, we are reminded not only of their dreams, but also of the conditions into which they are born, and whether this condition protects or betrays them.

Continuing, he said: “This gathering, the first regional meeting on Africa’s Pathfinding countries under the Global Alliance on ending violence against children, wouldn’t have come at a more appropriate time.

“It breathes life into the full declarations made as a test global Ministerial Conference on ending violence against children held in Bogota, Colombia, in November 2024.

Further, he states: “That moment in our shared history gave rise to a global campaign that has since united as in a singular purpose, it secures the safety, dignity, and future of our children. But we must be honest with ourselves.

“We cannot protect the child by merely reciting the anthems of their struggles or romanticizing their vulnerability. The real hope lies in action, concrete, deliberate action”, VP Shettima states.

“Our commitment was run deep, reaching into the very architecture of our education and health system. This is the soul of our human capital development strategy.

“To achieve this, our education system must be inclusive, safe, and anchored on child-sensitive policies. We must prioritize the training of teachers, not only as educators, but as protectors, equipped to identify and respond to signs of distress and trauma in their pupils”, VP states.

“This can only flourish in tandem with health care systems that are rooted in strong, accessible primary health centers and bolstered by investments in maternal and child health programs, our legal Provost must reflect our conviction from the Child Rights Act is violence against persons from Vision act Nigeria has laid the statutory foundation for the protection of children. But legislation alone shall not be vulnerable.

“It is the will behind those laws and the system that imposes them that makes a difference.

“That is why our national strategy also embraces probation and early intervention. We are strengthening families and communities through programs that promote positive parenting, challenge humble social norms, and provide targeted support to vulnerable households.

“Our dedicated duty bearers, beginning with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, are being equipped with the training and resources to champion the cause of child protection across all levels of government, and this tragedy, this strategy is told without structure. Our posted national plan of action on ending violence against children offers a clear road map, one that outlines conference steps and measurable targets for prevention, protection, and accountability.

“Through this, we aim to ensure that every Nigerian child has the opportunity to go learn and thrive in a safe and nurturing environment. There’s no simple policy objective. It is a moral obligation. It’s a proud power funding country, Nigeria’s commitment has only deepened over time.

“Today, under the vision of the renewing hope agenda, we are setting our sights higher. The invaluable commitments made during the 2021 national policy dialogue on ending violence against children continue to guide our Air Force, inspired by the momentum from Bucha and the leadership seen across our continent, we are expanding the frontiers of possibility.

“We intend to realize this vision through the renewed hope agenda for children, which includes reaching 10 million families by 2030 with a family strengthening program that creates safe and supportive homes”, the VP said.

We are investing in Safe Schools and embedding sexual and emotional learning into our national curriculum. We are rolling out the national guidelines on alternative care to ensure that even children without parental care are raised in law, safety, and stability. We are also taking practical steps. Launches universal child grant to reduce household poverty and children’s vulnerability, establishing a National Child Protection database and child well-being, to track our progress and uphold accountability.

“Our commitment includes establishing a dedicated child protection and Development Agency to ensure coherent coordination of all issues relating to this Nigerian child. But we are not stopping there. We are strengthening existing institutions and laws and launching national campaigns to promote awareness and drive behavioral change. We are also building institutional frameworks that guarantee children’s issues are never again consigned to the periphery or policy-making. These issues will now take center stage in inter-ministerial collaboration, in policy innovation, and in budgetary priorities through a dedicated grand mechanism that supports this vehicle. This is what it means to be a Pathfinder.

“The Global Alliance offers us a platform, not merely to speak or to act, to lead and to inspire. We are confident that when future generations look back at this moment, they will see that we, the leaders of today, rose to the occasion, that we responded with courage, with compassion, and would appear believe it in the right of every child to be saved, to be seen and to be heard. heard. They will remember that this was the moment we answered the call to end violence against children in our life

“On behalf of president Bola Ahmed, GCFR, Senator Kashim Shettima, Nigeria Vice President launched the national action plan on ending violence against children in nigeria.

“So our guest from Africa, welcome home. pf, home. be at home and come back home. Thank you and may God bless us all”, VP Concluded.

Earlier the Hon. Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim at the closing session of the day two of the Pathfinding African countries on Ending Violence Against Children at the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja, said :” No child should live in fear, harm, violence, every child has the right to live in a safe and nurturing environment”, The Minister remarks.

Standard – Times Nigeria correspondent, on hand at the State House, Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, venue of the day two, high Ministerial – level Regional Meeting of the Pathfinding African countries of the Global Alliance on Ending Violence Against Children that brought together African delegates, reports that “The 2025 – 2030 National Plan of Action to end violence against children in nigeria launched by the Nigeria Vice President Sen. Kashim Shettima – (NPA – EVAC), represent a crucial step forward in addressing violence against children – VAC in Nigeria.

“The plan outlines a comprehensive framework for both preventing and responding to VAC, aiming to mobilize all stakeholders to intensify their efforts towards this goals. Developed through extensive consultations at Federal and State levels and is a thorough review of existing legislation and policies.

The NPA-VAC emphasizes the prevention of violence and the development of effective response systems for child survivors.

The First Regional meeting of the Pathfinding Global Alliance on Ending Violence Against Children in Africa was organized by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, in collaboration with the United Nations Secretary General on Violence Against Children, with the delegations of African countries in attendance : Angola, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Kenya, Namibia, The United Republic of Tanzania (Zanzibar), Zambia, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Botswana, Morocco, all African countries committed to end violence against children in Africa.

The event was wind down with a vote of thanks by the permanent Secretary of the ministry of Women Affairs, Dr. Maryam Ismaila Keshinro.