UNICEF to enhance child protection efforts in Nigeria amid high abuse rates
via Punch Nigeria5 min read
The United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF is set to strengthen its child protection interventions in Nigeria, focusing on child abuse, child marriage, and birth registration as part of its 2028–2032 Country Programme. This initiative aims to reach millions of vulnerable children currently lacking essential services. Natalie McCauley, UNICEF Nigeria’s Chief of Child Protection, highlighted that official national data indicates six out of ten Nigerian children experience some form of abuse. Furthermore, only two in five children under five have their births registered, and two in five young women are married before age 18, with significant disparities between urban and rural areas. McCauley emphasized that future interventions must be driven by evidence to ensure measurable improvements in children's lives, rather than solely reporting activities. UNICEF's Strategic Plan for 2026–2029 requires programs to be more focused and deliver results at scale to achieve child-related Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The organization is seeking collaborative input from government officials and development partners to design its next country program, aiming to strengthen government institutions, expand the social welfare workforce, mobilize domestic financing, and improve access to quality child protection services across Nigeria. McCauley stressed that child protection is a prerequisite for national development and requires cross-sectoral collaboration, integrated frontline services
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