Nigeria, with a population exceeding 200 million, has the highest number of children in Africa. UN data indicates that 82 million Nigerians are under the age of 15, and nearly 31 million are under five, with around 7 million babies born annually. The Child Rights Act 2003, aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, defines a child as anyone under 18 and guarantees their rights to education, protection, and basic needs. Despite 24 of 36 states passing this law, implementation remains weak, leading to frequent violations of children’s rights by the government, individuals, families, and other institutions.
