Distinguished Colleagues and Beloved Children,
As we mark Children’s Day 2025, let us remember that this day is not only a time for celebration, but also a moment for sober reflection particularly for us in Northern Nigeria, where the challenges confronting our Children are both pressing and profound.
In far too many of our communities, children still grapple with the harsh realities of insecurity, poverty, limited access to quality education, and child labour. Some are forced into early marriages, subjected to trafficking, or denied the basic right to dream and thrive.
Yet, in every child’s eyes lies a spark of hope a potential scientist, teacher, doctor, lawyer, or leader waiting to be nurtured, not exploited.
As members of the legal profession, as a Bar, and as a nation, we must ask ourselves: Are we doing enough to protect and promote the rights of every Nigerian child especially in the North, where those rights are most at risk?
Our Constitution, the Child’s Rights Act, and numerous international treaties guarantee children the right to education, safety, healthcare, and a promising future. But these rights must go beyond paper; they must be realized in every home, school, and community.
The future of Northern Nigeria indeed, the future of our country depends on the promises we keep to our children today.
We call on all stakeholders—governments at all levels, the judiciary, civil society, and the private sector—to prioritize policies and initiatives that uphold the best interests of every Nigerian child.
Let us rise, not only in words but in purposeful action, to build a nation where every child, regardless of background, enjoys a fair chance at life, dignity, and fulfilment.
Happy Children’s Day!
Thank you.
By Zainab Aminu Garba
3rd Vice President, Nigerian Bar Association
Secretary, NBA-HRI
