Oluremi Tinubu Urges Nigerian Children to Dream Big at 2026 Children’s Day Celebration
Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has urged Nigerian children to remain ambitious and refuse to allow their environment or circumstances to limit their aspirations.
She gave the charge on Tuesday during the 2026 National Children’s Day celebration held at the State House in Abuja, where she emphasized the importance of inclusion, education, and child development in national growth.
Explaining why this year’s Children’s Day celebration was held ahead of the traditional May 27 date, the First Lady said the adjustment was made because the occasion coincides with the Eid-el-Kabir celebration in 2026.
“Celebrating them ahead of the annual Children’s Day on 27th May, which coincides with Sallah celebration this year, shows the importance we place on the children of this nation,” she said.
Senator Tinubu described the event as both a celebration of children and a reminder of the nation’s responsibility to protect and empower them.
“Today is not only a celebration of our children, but also a reminder of our shared responsibility to build a nation where every child is valued, protected, educated, and given the opportunity to thrive,” she stated.
Speaking on the theme of this year’s celebration, “Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Child,” the First Lady stressed that every Nigerian child deserves access to quality education, healthcare, digital skills, protection, and a safe environment.
“It calls on us to create a society where no child is left behind regardless of gender, background, ethnicity, religion, or social status,” she said, adding that inclusion must remain central to national development.
She also assured children that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to securing a brighter future for them through the Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to her, the administration is investing in education, healthcare, child nutrition, and child protection, while also removing barriers to education for the girl-child and expanding vocational and STEM opportunities.
The First Lady congratulated winners of the National Essay Competition and young innovators showcased at the event, describing their creativity and ideas as evidence of a promising future for Nigeria.
Top winners at the competition received cash prizes, with first-place winners awarded N1 million, second-place winners receiving N500,000, and third-place winners getting N250,000. Laptops and tablets were also distributed to participating children to support learning and digital development.
Earlier, the Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, said ongoing reforms under the Tinubu administration demonstrate the government’s commitment to children’s welfare.
She noted that the ongoing review of the Child Rights Act 2003 seeks to strengthen enforcement, address emerging protection gaps, and align Nigeria’s child protection framework with global standards and digital realities.
Also speaking, UNICEF Country Representative, Wafaa Abdulatef, commended the creativity of Nigerian children and urged adults to listen to children beyond the annual celebration.
Acting Country Director of the World Bank, Mathew Verghis, described children as Nigeria’s greatest asset and called for sustained investment in early childhood development.
The Executive Secretary of the National Primary Health Care Development Authority, Muyi Aina, also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening child nutrition and healthcare services across the country.
Highlights of the celebration included a science and technology exhibition showcasing innovative projects by pupils and students from public schools, as well as an Early Childhood Development interaction session with the First Lady.
