By| Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja
The Federal Government has renewed its commitment to ending violence against children, saying Nigeria will present measurable, adequately funded and accountable actions at the Second Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children (EVAC) scheduled for November 18–19, 2026, in Manila, Philippines.
The commitment was made in Abuja at the National Preparatory Meeting for Nigeria’s participation in the global conference, where government officials, development partners, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, and children and young people reviewed the country’s progress since the First Global Ministerial Conference held in Bogotá, Colombia, in 2024.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by the Director of Child Development, Mr Ali Andrew Madugu, said Nigeria must move beyond reporting activities to demonstrating measurable results in its efforts to protect children.
“We must transition decisively from activity-based reporting to results-based reporting. It is no longer sufficient to state that a sensitization campaign or stakeholder workshop was held; we must present verified data detailing geographical coverage, target versus actual beneficiaries reached, resources mobilized, and tangible outcomes achieved in preventing and responding to violence against children,” the minister said.
She said the national consultation was critical to consolidating Nigeria’s progress, identifying remaining vulnerabilities and developing a unified position ahead of the Manila conference.
The minister linked the Federal Government’s child protection agenda to the declaration of 2026 as the Year of Families and Social Development, stressing that stronger families are central to preventing child abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence.
She identified key areas of the government’s Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions as strengthening enforcement and child protection systems, accelerating implementation of the revised Child Rights Act, improving child protection data systems, promoting positive parenting and ensuring safe, non-violent learning environments.
Other priorities, she said, include expanding alternative care and psychosocial support, strengthening digital safety and ensuring meaningful participation of children and young people in policy development.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim also disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development had concluded the formal validation of critical national policies, Standard Operating Procedures and operational frameworks on child protection.
“These newly validated instruments, ranging from updated alternative care standards to streamlined reporting and referral protocols, represent a major qualitative leap forward. They move us away from fragmented approaches and establish enforceable operational benchmarks for all stakeholders nationwide,” she said.
She urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and community leaders to submit comprehensive, timely and evidence-driven data to support Nigeria’s national report and commitments for the Manila conference.
“Let us work together with urgency and singular focus to ensure that Nigeria presents a robust, unified and impactful position in Manila,” she said.
In her opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Esuabana Nko Asanye, represented by the Deputy Director, Child Development, Mrs Mariam Fitumi Shaibu, said the meeting was aimed at assessing Nigeria’s progress since the Bogotá conference and coordinating the country’s participation in Manila.
She recalled that Nigeria made seven commitments in Bogotá covering parent and caregiver support; safe and enabling schools; response and support services; legal and policy reform; ending harmful practices; human, financial and infrastructure resources; and data and monitoring.
According to her, the Manila conference will provide Nigeria with an opportunity to share its experiences, learn from other countries, strengthen international cooperation and reaffirm its commitment to ending violence against children.
She said the national consultation was expected to produce “an agreed Nigerian position and set of priority messages for the Manila Conference, as well as identification of specific commitments and actions Nigeria will present at the Conference.”
Asanye urged participants to base Nigeria’s position on an honest assessment of achievements, implementation gaps and the practical measures required to accelerate progress.
The Chief of Child Protection, UNICEF Nigeria, Natalie McCauley, urged stakeholders to place children and young people at the centre of Nigeria’s preparations for the Manila conference.
McCauley said the consultation should assess progress against Nigeria’s Bogotá commitments, identify implementation gaps and agree on actions, budgets and measurable indicators of impact.
She cited findings from the 2021 Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, which reported that nine in 10 children aged 1–14 had experienced at least one form of violent discipline by caregivers, while only 57 per cent of children under five had their births registered with civil authorities.
She noted that violence against children occurs in homes, schools, institutions, communities and online, making it necessary for Nigeria to strengthen a comprehensive child protection system capable of reaching children wherever they live.
“Ambitious pledges have value when they are costed, assigned and followed through,” McCauley said.
She called for stronger coordination among government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations and communities, while stressing the importance of safe and meaningful participation of children in decisions affecting their lives.
UNICEF, she added, remained committed to supporting the Nigerian government and its partners in strengthening evidence, the social service workforce, child protection services and financing.
Also speaking, the Acting Director, Programme Development, Impact & Influencing, Save the Children Nigeria, Mrs Yemisi Erhunmwunse, reaffirmed the organisation’s support for Nigeria’s efforts to protect children from violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation and harmful practices.
She said ending violence against children required political commitment, adequate resources, strong systems, effective services and active participation by children.
“Commitments are only meaningful when they translate into action,” Erhunmwunse said, urging stakeholders to develop clear, realistic and measurable commitments backed by ownership, financing and accountability.
She also stressed that children’s participation must go beyond consultation, saying their views should help shape policies, programmes, investments and decisions affecting their lives.
The Speaker of the National Children’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Progress Friday Umoh, presented children’s priorities and recommendations for Nigeria’s engagement at the Manila conference.
The recommendations focused on safe and enabling schools; stronger families and social protection; effective implementation of child protection laws; protection of children in the digital age; meaningful child participation and reliable data; protection of children from insecurity; and stronger economic stability and support for farmers.
The National Children’s Parliament called for schools to be made safe, inclusive and non-violent, while urging government to strengthen families through social protection and decent livelihoods.
The children also called for transparent funding and accountability in the implementation of child protection laws, as well as the integration of digital literacy and online safety into education.
They further urged government to ensure that every report of violence results in meaningful protection and action, while calling for reliable data to identify children being left behind and measure the impact of government interventions.
The children advocated stronger child-centred security systems around schools and communities, early-warning and rapid-response mechanisms, and coordinated protection measures to ensure that children are not forced to choose between their education and their safety.
In a statement, Ahmed Lawan Danbazau, MNIPR Head, Press and Public Relations DepartmentFederal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development said :”The national consultation brought together representatives of government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, as well as children and young people, ahead of Nigeria’s participation in the Manila conference.
