From Bidemi Dare
The Concern Home Social and Charitable Initiative (TCH) has condemned rising abuses, killings and exploitation of children, describing them as grave violations of fundamental rights.
The founder of TCH, Lillian Anyebe, spoke in a statement in Lagos on Thursday to commemorate Children’s Day 2026.
Ms Anyebe warned that Nigerian children had become increasingly endangered through terrorism, trafficking, poverty, abuse, harmful traditional practices and systemic neglect.
She said the 2026 Children’s Day theme, ‘Future now: Promoting inclusion for every Nigerian child,’ demanded urgent national reflection beyond celebrations.
According to her, millions of children continue to face conditions that rob them of safety, dignity, opportunities and the essence of childhood.
“Today calls us to confront the painful realities millions of Nigerian children face daily,” she said.
She lamented the plight of children trapped by kidnappers and terrorist groups, saying many were living through fear, violence and severe trauma.
Ms Anyebe also decried the growing number of out-of-school children whose futures remained threatened by poverty, displacement, insecurity and institutional failures.
She condemned child trafficking, exploitation, abuse and forced labour, describing them as crimes destroying the future of vulnerable children across the country.
The child advocate further criticised situations where victims of sexual abuse were denied justice because of silence, corruption, influence and societal stigma.
“Every child enduring physical, emotional, psychological and social abuse behind closed doors deserves protection and justice,” she said.
Ms Anyebe said many children were also being forcefully recruited into violence and child soldiering, stripping them of innocence and future opportunities.
She mourned children lost to terrorism, kidnapping, preventable diseases, neglect and poverty, blaming weak institutions and collective silence for worsening conditions.
According to her, such incidents are not isolated cases but widespread violations of children’s rights requiring immediate national attention.
“Increasingly, the Nigerian child has become one of the most endangered members of our society,” she stated.
She urged governments at all levels to strengthen child protection systems and prioritise policies and budgets centred on children’s welfare.
Ms Anyebe also called on law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to ensure swift prosecution of perpetrators of crimes committed against children.
She urged schools, religious organisations and communities to create safer environments where children could grow without fear, abuse or discrimination.
The TCH founder advised parents and caregivers to intentionally nurture, protect and listen to children while supporting their emotional and social development.
She also appealed to civil society groups, development partners and the media to sustain advocacy and amplify the voices of vulnerable children nationwide.
Ms Anyebe maintained that protecting children must become a collective responsibility if Nigeria hoped to secure a safer and more inclusive future for the coming generations.