Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has come under criticism after her 2026 Day of the African Child message failed to mention schoolchildren and teachers who remain in captivity following recent abductions in Oyo and Borno states.
The Day of the African Child, observed every June 16, commemorates the 1976 Soweto uprising in South Africa and highlights issues affecting children across the continent. This year’s theme focused on ensuring universal access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) for African children.
In her statement marking the occasion, the First Lady emphasized the importance of clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene as essential factors for children’s health, education, dignity, and overall development. She urged governments, communities, and stakeholders to collaborate in creating safer and healthier environments where children can thrive.
According to her, every child deserves access to basic amenities that support growth and learning, while stronger public health systems and child-friendly communities are necessary to secure a better future for Africa’s younger generation.
However, the statement made no reference to children affected by insecurity, particularly those abducted from schools and communities across Nigeria. The omission has reignited concerns among critics who argue that the plight of kidnapped children deserves greater attention from national leaders.
Similar criticism followed the First Lady’s Children’s Day message in May 2026, when many Nigerians accused her of overlooking the suffering of families whose children were being held by kidnappers. Social media users at the time described the message as disconnected from the realities faced by victims of insecurity.
Critics maintain that national conversations about children’s welfare should also address the challenges posed by terrorism, banditry, and kidnappings, which continue to disrupt education and threaten the safety of children in several parts of the country.
