The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has condemned the growing trend of indiscriminate school closures across the country, describing the action as “unacceptable.”
NGE President, Eze Anaba, stated this on Tuesday at a symposium organised by UNICEF in collaboration with the NGE and DAME to mark World Children’s Day in Lagos.
The event focused on the theme: “Equipping the Nigerian Child for the Future: How Prepared Are We?”Anaba said Nigeria is in a “state of emergency” due to worsening insecurity, school disruptions and weak health and education systems.
He lamented that children have become primary victims of violence, saying, “What happens to our children happens to Nigeria.”
He also expressed concern that Nigeria now has the world’s highest number of out-of-school children.
He urged journalists to prioritise evidence-based, child-centred reporting and embrace solution-driven investigative journalism.UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Wafa Saeed, said millions of Nigerian children remain unvaccinated, acutely malnourished, and unable to read a simple text by age 10.
She called for full implementation of the Safe School Declaration, noting that progress is too slow to meet acceptable standards.
The Consul General of the Netherlands in Lagos, Michel Deelen, said many schools lack basic facilities such as roofs, water and teachers.
He reaffirmed his country’s support for UNICEF’s education work, stressing that “education is the engine of national progress.”
Chairman of the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME), Lanre Idowu, said the Nigerian child remains vulnerable and urged the media to provide more developmental, human-centred reporting.
He said protecting children today is essential to securing the nation’s future.