Loading article...
Nigeria marks Children's Day 2026 with 24.6 million children still engaged in child labour
Nigeria celebrates Children's Day 2026 under the theme 'Future Now' as over 24.6 million children aged 5 to 17 remain in child labour and an estimated 18 million are out of school. Experts call for urgent investment in education and skills development.
Nigeria marked Children's Day 2026 under the theme 'Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child,' even as staggering statistics underscore the scale of the challenge facing the country's youngest citizens. Over 24.6 million Nigerian children aged 5 to 17 are currently engaged in child labour, while an estimated 18 million remain out of school entirely.
Experts speaking at events across the country emphasised that deliberate efforts must move beyond the usual platitudes to focus on concrete skills, emotional resilience, and structural shifts required to build future-proof children. The goal, they stressed, is to develop children who can function anywhere they find themselves, equipped with practical problem-solving abilities rather than theoretical knowledge alone.
The celebration also highlighted a significant gap in targeted content and programming for Nigerian children. Despite the country's vibrant creative industry, there remains a severe shortage of quality children's entertainment. Acclaimed filmmaker Nija Kimolayo pointed out that without investment in quality children's content, the case for such programming cannot be made. She noted that the British government spends over a billion pounds annually on children's programming through the BBC.
Educators and child development specialists called for introducing creative thinking and innovation from an early age through images, simple words, well-produced books, and engaging activities. They noted that practical learning experiences help children develop critical life skills and the ability to encounter challenges with resilience rather than giving up.
The 2026 observance comes at a critical juncture, as advocates stress that true inclusion means providing children in rural and marginalised areas the same survival tools available to those in urban private schools. With the majority of the nation's future workforce currently underserved, stakeholders urged immediate, concrete action rather than continued rhetoric, as reported by Channels Television.