The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday intensified its campaign against child abuse and harmful traditional practices, warning that persistent violations of children’s rights across communities in Nigeria pose a serious threat to the country’s future.
Speaking at a community sensitisation programme in Pegi Community, Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, said incidents of neglect, violence, child labour, early marriage, female genital mutilation, and the exclusion of children from decisions affecting their lives remain widespread despite existing legal protections.
Ojukwu, who was represented by the Director of the Women and Children Department of the commission, Mrs. Ngozi Okore, stressed that the protection of children’s rights must move beyond government institutions to active community participation and ownership.
He said although the Nigerian Constitution, the Child Rights Act 2003, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child guarantee every child’s right to survival, education, dignity, and protection, implementation at the grassroots level remains weak.
“Children are not passive beneficiaries of rights. They are rights holders here and now,” he said, adding that communities, parents, teachers, religious leaders, and traditional rulers must take responsibility for safeguarding children from abuse and exploitation.
The NHRC boss noted that the Commission cannot tackle rights violations alone, stressing that lasting solutions would only emerge when communities reject harmful practices and embrace accountability.
According to him, empowering children with knowledge about their rights would help them speak out against abuse, while enlightened parents and teachers would become protectors rather than barriers to child development.
“When traditional and religious leaders lend their voices, harmful practices lose legitimacy. And when communities establish shared standards, accountability becomes real,” he stated.
Ojukwu described the sensitisation programme themed: “Empowering Kuje’s Children to Promote and Protect Their Rights,” as part of a broader strategy to deepen human rights awareness at the grassroots and strengthen child protection mechanisms in schools and communities.
He urged children to speak up whenever their rights are violated and encouraged adults to pay attention to children’s concerns, saying societies that listen to children are better positioned for sustainable development.
In his remarks, the principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Pegi Community-Kuje, Mr. Asrmota A. Kelly, commended the NHRC for bringing the campaign directly to students and community members.
Kelly said the initiative would positively shape students’ orientation toward education and social responsibility.
He added that the programme had helped students, parents, and teachers better understand their respective rights and responsibilities, stressing that respect for one another’s rights remains essential for peaceful coexistence in schools and society.
The sensitisation programme attracted traditional rulers, religious leaders, members of the School-Based Management Committee, teachers, parents, students, and other stakeholders from the Kuje Area Council.
