International Children’s Day: Child Rights Activist, Anaja advocates tackling out-of-school children menace

On the International Children’s Day, one of the foremost Child Rights Activist, Charity Anaja has advocated a collective action against the menace of out-of-school children, saying it’s a challenge that must not be ignored if Nigeria must come out of its myriad of challenges.

Speaking in her capacity as the North-East Coordinator of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF), she expressed concerns in Abuja, saying there was need for societal mindset shifts and practical interventions.

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While acknowledging Nigeria’s Child Rights Act and state-level protections like the Child Protection Law, Anaja, she explained that the legislation alone remains insufficient.

“Laws must translate into action,” she asserted, citing poverty and cultural biases as barriers. “We have enacted laws for children’s welfare, but implementation lags. We must move beyond paper reforms.”

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Addressing bullying which remains a major theme for 2025, Anaja highlighted its pervasive impact: “Children are bullied in schools, online, and even fear speaking to parents or teachers.

“Depression sets in some become traumatized, others commit suicide. Bullying stifles potential through power play.” She linked the issue to root causes: “A bully is often an abused child raised in a tense environment. We must address this through parents, caregivers, and societal accountability, including monitoring social media access.”

Anaja advocated grassroots campaigns to counter harmful traditions like early marriage, which clash with legal frameworks.

She proposed incentivizing education through free schooling and community-driven solutions, particularly for girls. “Even in states like Adamawa with free education, children lack uniforms and books. Poverty warps perspectives—parents see kids as income sources, not learners,” she explained. For youth disinterested in formal education, she recommended skills acquisition programs to empower them economically.

On girl-child marriage in Nigeria, Anaja urged balancing cultural norms with consequences: “Some cite biological reasons for early marriage, but complications like vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) devastate futures.”

She concluded with a call for societal revolution: “Every child deserves a dignified childhood. Their future hinges on breaking cycles of poverty and abuse. Together, we must shape a brighter tomorrow.” For Anaja and WOTCLEF, the mission remains clear—ensuring no child is left behind.

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