Six in 10 Nigerian children experience abuse, UNICEF reveals

UNICEF has raised significant concerns about child protection in Nigeria, revealing that a staggering six out of 10 children endure some form of abuse. The agency also highlighted that only two in five young women marry before the age of 18, a situation that exposes millions of children to abuse, exploitation, and exclusion from essential services.

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A national result can conceal deep subnational disparities.

Natalie McCauley, UNICEF Nigeria’s Chief of Child Protection, shared these figures in Abuja, emphasizing that these statistics place children's safety, identity, education, health, and future opportunities at risk. She stressed that child protection efforts should be measured by their tangible impact on children's lives, not merely by the number of activities undertaken.

While acknowledging progress in areas like strengthening the child protection workforce and expanding community-based structures, McCauley warned that national averages mask significant disparities. Children in remote areas, conflict zones, those with disabilities, and adolescent girls facing multiple risks remain underserved. UNICEF's global strategic plan targets protecting 350 million children from violence by 2029, requiring tailored approaches to local realities.

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We cannot attempt to do everything, everywhere, in the same way.

The upcoming UNICEF Nigeria Country Programme will prioritize children facing the greatest deprivation, bolster government systems, mobilize domestic funding, and scale up interventions with proven effectiveness. McCauley asserted that child protection is fundamental to children's well-being, stating, "A child who is afraid at home cannot thrive. A girl married too early is less likely to remain in school. A child without a legal identity may be excluded from health, education and social protection."

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A child who is afraid at home cannot thrive. A girl married too early is less likely to remain in school. A child without a legal identity may be excluded from health, education and social protection.