Health and Survival Under Threat
The right to survive is critically endangered for Nigerian children. One in nine dies before their fifth birthday, reflecting systemic healthcare failures. Chronic malnutrition affects two in five children under five, stunting their growth and cognitive development. Nigeria also has the highest number of unvaccinated children globally, leaving them exposed to preventable diseases.
Education in Crisis
Nigeria’s education system is failing its youth, with 10.2 million children out of school—one of the highest rates worldwide. Even among those attending school, learning outcomes are dire: only 27% of children aged 7–14 possess basic reading skills. Disparities are stark, with 83% of wealthy children attending school compared to 53% from the poorest households.
Violence and Harmful Practices
Childhood for many is marred by trauma. Nigeria leads Africa in child marriage, with over 23 million girls married before adulthood—half of rural girls affected. Nearly all children under five experience violence, and girls face heightened risks of sexual abuse. Harmful practices like female genital mutilation persist, while thousands of children endure detention without legal support.
Climate and Poverty Amplify Suffering
Climate change intensifies vulnerabilities, with Nigeria ranking among the riskiest countries for children facing environmental threats. Floods and droughts displace millions, worsening a water and sanitation crisis. Open defecation is practised by 48 million people, and clean water access is a privilege: 99% of wealthy households have it, compared to 48% of the poorest.
Rooted in Multidimensional Poverty
Over half of Nigerian children suffer multidimensional poverty, deprived in health, education, and sanitation. Deprivation fuels cycles of harm—children of uneducated mothers are more likely to be malnourished, and 79% of child brides live in severe poverty.
A Call to Action
The report urges immediate, equitable intervention to vaccinate children, reintegrate out-of-school youth, strengthen child protections, and expand social safety nets. The futures of children like Chukuwaluka and Ebuka, featured in the report, depend on Nigeria’s investment in its youngest citizens today. Without action, the nation’s progress risks stagnation, leaving millions of potential untapped.