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Stand Up, Speak Up, Tinubu Advises the Nigerian Child on Children’s Day
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent a message to Nigerian children in celebration of the 2025 National Children’s Day, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to their protection, development, and well-being.
In his message on Tuesday, President Tinubu described Nigerian children as the pride and future of the nation, calling them the heartbeat of the country’s tomorrow and the custodians of future leadership, innovation, and progress.
He expressed profound joy in celebrating the day with them and emphasized the government’s constitutional and moral responsibility to safeguard their rights and nurture their dreams.
Speaking on the theme of this year’s celebration, “Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation,” the President underscored the need to foster a culture in which every child feels safe, respected, and heard. He condemned bullying and violence in all forms, both in physical environments and digital spaces, noting that such behaviours have no place in today’s Nigeria.
The message in details:
PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU’S MESSAGE ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2025 NATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY, TUESDAY, 27TH MAY 2025
1. My Dear Children, the pride and future of our great nation, I join you to celebrate the 2025 National Children’s Day with immense pride and profound joy. On this special day, let me reaffirm our commitment to nurturing and protecting you as Nigeria’s future leaders, innovators, and changemakers.
2. Across every school, community, and home in Nigeria today, you are the most precious part of our national fabric, the heartbeat of our nation’s future, and the custodians of tomorrow’s promise, innovation, and leadership. I therefore reaffirm today our constitutional, moral, and intergenerational duty and commitment to safeguard every Nigerian child, protect his rights, and nurture his dreams.
3. This year’s theme, “Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation,” could not have been more timely as it speaks directly to the culture we are building. A culture where every child feels safe, respected, and heard, both in physical spaces and digital communities. Just to be clear, violence, bullying, and neglect have no place in the Nigeria of today.
4. Globally, more than 1 in 3 children experience bullying regularly. In Nigeria, studies estimate that up to 65% of school-age children have experienced some form of physical, psychological, or social aggression. This is unacceptable. A child who learns in fear cannot learn well. A child who grows in fear cannot grow right.
5. My fellow Nigerians and our dear children, we prioritise child protection under the Renewed Hope Agenda. This includes the full implementation of Nigeria’s National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children (2024–2030), which I recently launched. The plan provides a comprehensive roadmap to prevent abuse, prosecute perpetrators, and support victims, backed by robust financing and multi-sectoral coordination.
6. We are further taking decisive steps to prevent, detect, and respond to all forms of violence against children. As a government, we have initiated a comprehensive review of the Child Rights Act (2003) and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (2015) to expand the scope of protection, strengthen their provisions, close implementation gaps, and ensure nationwide enforcement. We are also leveraging the Cybercrime Act, which is in full force, to protect children from cyberbullying, exploitation, and abuse.
7. I am pleased to note that 36 states have domesticated the Child Rights Act, thus reflecting our collective resolve to protect and provide for the welfare of children. However, laws alone will not be sufficient to protect our children. We require a holistic approach where parents, teachers, caregivers, faith leaders, lawmakers, and citizens must take ownership.
8. We are investing in other focused national systems for child protection, such as the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS), which is being scaled up to track and respond to cases in real-time. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs is strengthening community-based child protection mechanisms, training frontline responders, and leading nationwide awareness campaigns to end harmful traditional practices.
9. Additionally, and in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda, we are committed to implementing proactive measures to strengthen existing efforts to support families and communities, including developing a robust institutional framework focused exclusively on Child Protection and Development. This will ensure greater accountability in safeguarding the rights and well-being of every Nigerian child.
10. We have introduced a National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools and developed Guidelines for School Administrators, among several other measures. We embed social-emotional learning and child safeguarding into teacher training. Through the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children, we create inclusive pathways for every child to learn, thrive, and succeed, regardless of background.
11. In the care economy, we are expanding access to primary healthcare and upscaling dedicated Mother and Child Hospitals and healthcare systems across all six geopolitical zones, offering integrated maternal and child services. We are working collaboratively with subnational governments to ensure the establishment of similar facilities across the States.
12. We believe every child has the right to grow up in a loving and protective environment. To ensure that children who are unable to remain in their biological homes are given the care and protection they deserve, the Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs has developed the National Guidelines for Alternative Care for Children. These guidelines would complement the recently launched National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children (EVAC) and strengthen our child protection systems.
13. Through the Nutrition 774 programme and our School Feeding Scheme, we work assiduously to improve child health and cognitive development. The Nutrition 774 project aims to ensure no child in Nigeria goes hungry. Through this project, we are reaching every community, guaranteeing that children receive the necessary nutrition to thrive in their academic pursuits, creative endeavours, and overall health. A well-nourished child is well-equipped and ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.
14. To institutionalise our commitment, the Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs has recently established a dedicated Department of Nutrition to strengthen policy coherence, programme delivery, and coordination around child and maternal nutrition.
15. We are investing in social protection tools such as the Universal Child Grant and finalising a national Child Wellbeing Index to measure progress, track gaps, and hold ourselves accountable.
16. Our children’s safety cannot be solely anchored on government policies but on community vigilance. This is why I am launching a nationwide “See Something, Say Something, Do Something” campaign today, encouraging every Nigerian to become a child protection champion.
17. To our beloved children: you matter. Your dreams matter. Your voices matter. No one has the right to hurt, silence, or diminish you. If you are bullied or harmed, speak up—you will be heard and protected.
18. I call on all partners, stakeholders, and duty-bearers to sustain and deepen our collective efforts. We must embed child rights in all our budgets, plans, and policies.
19. I commend states taking bold steps for our children’s welfare and urge those yet to act: now is the time. Our children are not just statistics—they are the heart of our nation.
20. Let today mark a renewed movement to build a Nigeria where no child suffers in silence, no child is left behind, and every child grows in dignity, peace, and love.
21. Congratulations to all our children. May your laughter echo across this land as a symbol of Renewed Hope and a prosperous future.
Long live Nigerian children.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
World-renowned boxer Anthony Joshua on Monday survived a ghastly road accident in Makun, Ogun State.
Eyewitnesses report that the incident occurred along a busy highway of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The vehicle carrying Joshua, a Lexus Jeep with the number plate, KRD 850 HN, reportedly collided with a stationary truck under circumstances that are still being investigated.
Joshua reportedly sustained minor injuries, while two persons were said to have died on the spot.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has cautioned that any attempt to hurriedly re‑gazette Nigeria’s new tax laws could undermine parliamentary oversight and set a dangerous constitutional precedent.
Atiku’s warning follows public scrutiny over reports that the Tax Reform Acts signed by President Bola Tinubu differ from the versions passed by the National Assembly. Lawmakers, including Abdussamad Dasuki, raised concerns that the alterations could pose serious legal and constitutional risks, noting that they were not backed by any constitutional framework.
In a statement on X, Atiku said the directive to re-gazette the Acts effectively confirms “that the gazetted version of the Tinubu Tax Act does not reflect what was duly passed by the National Assembly,” calling it “a grave constitutional issue.”
He emphasized that under Section 58 of the 1999 Constitution, a bill only becomes law after passage by both chambers, presidential assent, and gazetting.
“Gazetting is merely an administrative act of publication. It does not create, amend, or validate a law,” Atiku said, adding that any post-passage insertion, deletion, or modification without legislative approval constitutes forgery rather than a clerical error.
Atiku further warned that rushing a re-gazetting while legislative investigations are ongoing “undermines parliamentary oversight and sets a dangerous precedent,” stressing that the only lawful approach is “fresh legislative consideration, re-passage by both chambers, fresh presidential assent, and proper gazetting.”
The former vice president clarified that his position is not opposition to tax reform but a defence of constitutional order.
“This is a defence of the integrity of the legislative process and a rejection of any attempt to normalise constitutional breaches through procedural shortcuts,” he said.
The Federal government has denied wrongdoing, insisting the laws will take effect as scheduled on January 1, 2026, while the National Assembly has directed the issuance of Certified True Copies of the Acts to ensure clarity and accuracy.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate in the 2023 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, is set to formally join the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on December 31, 2025.
The development would put to rest months of speculation about where the former Governor of Anambra State would pitch his tent in the coming elections.
Reports claim that Obi would be defecting with serving senators and other lawmakers elected on the platform of the LP, as well as remnants of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the South East region.
Specifically, Obi would be defecting alongside the Senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh; that of Anambra North, Tony Nwoye; Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe; PDP chieftain Ben Obi; and members of the Obidient movement in the region.
It is not clear if the Abia State governor, Alex Otti, is part of the planned movement to the ADC.
The governor was recently approached by the PDP to join the party and re-contest his current position in 2027.
Further reports quoted Obi’s spokesperson, Valentine Obienyem, as confirming the planned defection of his boss to the ADC.
“Yes, it is true,” he reportedly said on Sunday.
Senator Umeh said the event would hold in Enugu, adding that it would involve all Obi’s supporters across the South East region.
“They will come from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo states to join those in Enugu, where this exercise will hold on 31st December,” he reportedly added.
Sources hinted that Obi, who has not hidden his intention to appear on the ballot in 2027, would contest the presidential ticket of the ADC.
On his part, Chief Chekwas Okorie, reportedly said that the expected formal defection of Obi to the ADC is a healthy development that could reshape the thinking and permutations of the 2027 general elections.
“I imagine that he would be defecting along with most of his associates and followers. I believe that a fortified and strong ADC will add value to the opposition and assuage the general fear of a possible one-party option to Nigerians come 2027. The APC, ADC and possibly the PDP locking horns in the 2027 democratic encounter promises a vibrant and robust electioneering campaign that will provide Nigerians the required options to make informed choices in electing their preferred leaders at all levels. I imagine that the APC leadership will return to the drawing table to map out the strategy to confront the emerging challenge. Nigerians are in interesting times,” Okorie stated.
National President of Njiko Igbo Forum (NIF), Rev Okechukwu Obioha, vouched support for Obi to ensure he reaches the pinnacle of his political career. He, however, cautioned that the ADC should not compromise merit and integrity in the choice of its presidential candidate, stressing that Obi remains the “hope for the restoration of the country on the path of greatness.”
