President Bola Tinubu has condemned cases of bullying in schools in the country, saying it is unacceptable.

In his message to children on Tuesday morning, on the occasion of the 2025 National Children’s Day, with the theme: “Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation,” Tinubu said a child who learns in fear cannot learn well and a child who grows in fear cannot grow right.

He said globally, more than 1 in 3 children experience bullying regularly, while in Nigeria, studies estimate that up to 65% of school-age children have experienced some form of physical, psychological, or social aggression.

“My Dear Children, the pride and future of our great nation, I join you to celebrate the 2025 National Children’s Day with immense pride and profound joy. On this special day, let me reaffirm our commitment to nurturing and protecting you as Nigeria’s future leaders, innovators, and changemakers,” the President stated in a message he personally penned down on Tuesday.

Speaking to the conscience of children, he said across every school, community, and home in Nigeria today, you are the most precious part of our national fabric, the heartbeat of our nation’s future, and the custodians of tomorrow’s promise, innovation, and leadership.

The President seized his message to reel out a number of policies his administration has birthed to protect the interest of the Nigerian children.

The President said, “I therefore reaffirm today our constitutional, moral, and intergenerational duty and commitment to safeguard every Nigerian child, protect his rights, and nurture his dreams.

“This year’s theme, “Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation,” could not have been more timely as it speaks directly to the culture we are building. A culture where every child feels safe, respected, and heard, both in physical spaces and digital communities. Just to be clear, violence, bullying, and neglect have no place in the Nigeria of today.

“Our dear children, we prioritise child protection under the Renewed Hope Agenda. This includes the full implementation of Nigeria’s National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children (2024–2030), which I recently launched. The plan provides a comprehensive roadmap to prevent abuse, prosecute perpetrators, and support victims, backed by robust financing and multi-sectoral coordination.

“We are further taking decisive steps to prevent, detect, and respond to all forms of violence against children. As a government, we have initiated a comprehensive review of the Child Rights Act (2003) and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (2015) to expand the scope of protection, strengthen their provisions, close implementation gaps, and ensure nationwide enforcement. We are also leveraging the Cybercrime Act, which is in full force, to protect children from cyberbullying, exploitation, and abuse.”