The Federal Government has raised concerns over the alarming impact of malnutrition on children under five, attributing 32% of deaths in this age group to inadequate nutrition.
In addition to this, the government has decried the widespread use of children as cheap laborers in rural farms and urban marketplaces, a practice that exposes them to hazardous conditions and deprives them of a secure childhood.
Addressing Child Vulnerabilities
Speaking in the United Kingdom during the launch of the Community Children’s Fund event, themed “Advancing Africa’s Agenda for Children 2040: Protecting Street-Connected Children in West Africa,” the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, highlighted the urgent need for intervention.
“Malnutrition is a major concern, contributing to 32% of deaths among children under five,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim said. “These children face hazardous living conditions and are often forced into labor in farms and marketplaces, bearing the brunt of societal inequities and losing the safety and joy of childhood.”
The minister also revealed that child labor remains rampant in Nigeria, with millions of children engaged in hazardous work across various sectors. According to the Nigeria Child Labour Survey 2022 by the International Labour Organisation, 39% of children aged 5 to 17 are in child labor, with 61% of those between 5 and 11 years old.
The Impact of Neglect and Systemic Failures
Sulaiman-Ibrahim pointed to a range of factors exacerbating child neglect, including economic pressures, forced migration, cultural shifts, and the erosion of family cohesion. These issues have strained traditional safety nets, leaving children increasingly vulnerable.
The Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2018 places the under-five mortality rate at 132 per 1,000 live births. Meanwhile, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that malnutrition is a direct or underlying cause of 45% of deaths in children under five. Furthermore, Nigeria has the second-highest burden of stunted children globally, with 32% of children under five affected.
UNICEF also estimates that two million Nigerian children suffer from severe acute malnutrition, yet only 20% of these children receive treatment.
Africa’s Agenda for Children 2040
During the event, the minister reaffirmed Africa’s commitment to the Agenda for Children 2040, a vision to create a future where every African child thrives.
“By 2040, we must collectively commit to building a society where neglect, abuse, and systemic failures have no place,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim said. “The launch of this fund provides a critical platform to address vulnerabilities faced by children and unlock their immense potential.”
The call to action underscores the importance of tackling malnutrition, child labor, and neglect to ensure a brighter future for all African children.
