The Executive Director of CAMAC, Mr Alex Uangbaoje, made the call in a statement issued on Tuesday to mark the 2026 Day of the African Child.
Uangbaoje said Africa must confront realities that continued to deprive millions of children of their future inspite of progress recorded in advancing child rights.
“The future of Africa depends on how well the continent protects, nurtures and invests in its children today,” he said.
He added that every child deserved to grow up in an environment that guaranteed safety, health, education, dignity and opportunity.
Uangbaoje highlighted that the abduction, displacement, and denial of education for children due to insecurity are severe violations of child rights and direct threats to the continent’s future.
The centre called for the immediate and unconditional release of all children held captive by terrorists, bandits and other criminal groups across Nigeria.
Uangbaoje said the organisation joined millions of Africans in commemorating the annual event observed every June 16 in honour of the children of Soweto, South Africa, who protested against injustice in 1976.
He noted that this year’s theme, “Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Every Child in Africa,” underscored the need to guarantee safe water, sanitation facilities and hygienic living conditions for every child.
According to him, while access to water, sanitation and hygiene remains a major challenge affecting millions of children across Africa, many children continue to face even more fundamental threats.
He said such threats included insecurity, abduction, displacement, loss of parental care and denial of education.
Uangbaoje expressed concern that thousands of Nigerian children remained trapped in the consequences of insecurity caused by terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.
He said many children had been abducted, displaced, orphaned or prevented from accessing education due to persistent violence in parts of the country.
“The continued captivity of children held hostage in different parts of Nigeria is a stain on our collective conscience and a violation of every principle of child rights and protection,” he said.
The CAMAC executive director stressed that every child deserved freedom, protection, education and the opportunity to thrive in a safe environment.
He urged the Federal Government, state governments, security agencies, development partners and community leaders to intensify efforts to secure schools and protect vulnerable communities.
According to him, no child should be denied the right to education because of conflict or insecurity.
Uangbaoje also called on African governments to address growing challenges confronting children across the continent.
He listed the challenges as persistent child poverty, malnutrition, limited access to quality education, child labour and child trafficking.
Others, he said, are sexual and gender-based violence, early and forced marriages, recruitment of children into armed conflicts and inadequate healthcare services.
He added that the effects of climate change, humanitarian crises and poor access to water, sanitation and hygiene services continued to threaten children’s welfare.
Uangbaoje reaffirmed CAMAC’s commitment to advocatin
