Anaba Sounds Alarm On Nigeria’s Child Crisis, Calls For Unified Action At UNICEF – NGE-Dame Event

Lawrence Mpama

At a solemn yet urgent gathering in Lagos on Tuesday, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Eze Anaba, declared that Nigeria is facing a “state of emergency” over the condition of its children—an emergency he said rivals the darkest moments in the nation’s history.
Speaking at the UNICEF–NGE–DAME World Children’s Day event at the Sheraton Hotel, Anaba did not mince words: “At no other time in our history – except during the civil war – has the condition of our children been this uncertain.”

Against a backdrop of heightened national security alerts and escalating violence, he painted a stark picture of a country where children have become collateral in a relentless cycle of conflict. “Whenever we attempt to understand who the latest victims of these barbaric attacks are,” he said, “we almost always find the same tragic pattern: children killed, injured, displaced, or traumatized.”
He reminded the room that World Children’s Day—established in 1954—was meant to prevent exactly this scale of human suffering. Yet, 71 years later, “the very schools meant to nurture future leaders have become theatres of war.”

‘What happens to our children happens to Nigeria’
Drawing attention to Nigeria’s demographic reality – over 220 million citizens, half of them children – Anaba stressed that the nation’s fate is inseparable from the fate of its youngest. He rattled off uncomfortable truths:
Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world.
Girls are disproportionately affected by poverty, conflict, and harmful cultural norms.
Millions of infants lack access to basic vaccines.
Children continue to suffer violence, abuse, child labour, early marriage, and in some regions, forcible recruitment into armed groups.

“These are not mere statistics,” he warned. “They are the lived experiences of children whose dreams – and our country’s future – are being derailed.”

The media must not be a bystander
Addressing his colleagues directly, Anaba emphasized that the media carries a moral and constitutional responsibility.
“The time for passive reporting is over,” he said emphatically.
He outlined a new mandate for journalists:
Amplify the struggles and hopes of vulnerable children
Use verified data to drive evidence-based reporting
Spotlight successful solutions, not just problems
Prioritize investigative and solutions-oriented journalism
The goal, he said, is simple: shape public consciousness in a way that compels policy change.

Civil society: the community lifeline
Anaba highlighted the vital role of civil society organizations working at the grassroots: “Their daily proximity to affected communities gives them insight the nation desperately needs.”
He urged CSOs to continue delivering protection services, engaging families, and developing local solutions—while calling on the media to ensure their findings shape national policy debates.

UNICEF: ‘unwavering commitment’
The NGE President praised UNICEF for its long-standing leadership in child rights advocacy. According to him, the organization’s support – through training, data, and global best practices – remains indispensable.
Together with UNICEF, he said, the media can build public awareness campaigns, strengthen accountability, and improve child-focused storytelling nationwide.

Government holds the key
Despite the work of partners, Anaba was clear: “Ultimately, the government has the primary responsibility to protect every child.”
He urged the Nigerian government to:
Secure schools and communities
Enforce child protection laws
Invest meaningfully in health, education, and social welfare
Advance transparent collaborations with civil society and the media

“Without strong political will,” he warned, “our advocacy remains incomplete.”

A collective call to action
As the event drew to a close, Anaba challenged every stakeholder present to take at least one meaningful step forward – from launching investigative journalism projects to forming advocacy partnerships or creating dedicated child rights platforms.

Quoting Nelson Mandela, he reminded the audience: “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”
He concluded with a charge that echoed across the hall:
“Let us be the voice of and for our children.”