Tapping Nigeria’s Untapped Treasure: A Children’s Day Reflection on Our Greatest Asset

Tapping Nigeria’s Untapped Treasure: A Children’s Day Reflection on Our Greatest Asset

By Matthew Eloyi

As the sun rises over the vast and vibrant landscape of Nigeria tomorrow, 27th day of May 2025, the air is filled with the joyful echoes of celebration. It is another Children’s Day — a symbolic day when the nation pauses to reflect on the most precious segment of its population: our children.

This year’s theme, “Tapping the Untapped Natural Treasure,” could not be more timely or profound. For far too long, Nigeria has measured its wealth in barrels of oil, in hectares of farmland, in mineral-rich soils. Yet, the most enduring and potent treasure we possess is not hidden in the Niger Delta creeks or beneath the Jos Plateau; it is in our classrooms, our playgrounds, our rural streets, and our urban slums. It is in the eyes of a child who still dares to dream in a country that too often forgets them.

For a nation that prides itself as the “Giant of Africa,” Nigeria has fallen short in the protection, development, and empowerment of its children. The statistics remain deeply troubling. According to UNICEF, millions of Nigerian children are out of school — the highest number globally. Child labour, early marriage, malnutrition, and lack of access to quality healthcare continue to define the lives of too many of our children, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

These are not just numbers. They are names. They are faces. They are future doctors, engineers, artists, and leaders who may never get the chance to blossom. It is a national paradox that a country so rich in human potential continues to overlook its most valuable resource.

If Nigeria is to ever fulfill its destiny as a global power, it must first start by acknowledging this simple truth: a child without access to education is a buried treasure; a child living in conflict is an endangered gem; a child robbed of healthcare is a jewel cracked before it could shine.

The theme “Tapping the Untapped Natural Treasure” is both a celebration and a challenge. It beckons parents, educators, lawmakers, corporate entities, and every stakeholder to look beyond lip service and token gestures. It demands bold, transformative action.

To truly tap into our children’s potential, we must begin with education. Not just any education, but one that is inclusive, future-oriented, and empowering. In a world racing towards artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital literacy, our children must not be left behind. Primary education must evolve beyond chalk and talk; it must inspire curiosity, nurture creativity, and instill critical thinking from an early age.

This also means investing in teacher training, revamping curricula to reflect global standards, and ensuring no child is denied the right to learn because of poverty, gender, or geography.

Healthcare, too, must be prioritised. A child plagued by malnutrition, disease, or poor mental health cannot grow into a productive adult. We must bridge the healthcare gaps in rural areas, strengthen immunisation programmes, and increase funding for maternal and child health.

Beyond development, protection is key. Nigerian children continue to face the threats of abuse, trafficking, forced labour, and exploitation. In conflict-ridden regions, children are kidnapped, conscripted into armed groups, or denied education. Our laws must not only exist on paper; they must be enforced. Child protection agencies must be empowered and adequately funded to act decisively.

Moreover, the media must play a more proactive role in shaping narratives that humanise children and elevate their voices. Our screens must show more than sensational headlines; they must tell stories of resilience, brilliance, and the everyday struggles of Nigerian children.

This year’s Children’s Day should also be a reminder that children are not voiceless. They speak — often in silence, in art, in questions, and in defiance. They speak when they ask why school roofs leak. They speak when they wonder why they must hawk during school hours. They speak when they ask why others have laptops and they do not have textbooks.

We must create more platforms for children to be heard — in policy-making, in community forums, in media, and in school leadership. Listening to children is the first step to understanding what kind of future they envision, and helping them build it.

Tapping Nigeria’s treasure cannot be left to government alone. It is a collective responsibility. Civil society must continue to advocate, private sector players must support education and innovation, religious leaders must promote child rights, and parents must take an active role in nurturing values of kindness, discipline, and excellence.

The future of our democracy, economy, and national identity rests on how we raise our children today. They are tomorrow’s voters, workforce, entrepreneurs, and peacebuilders. And if we fail them, we fail ourselves.

In recent times, some efforts have given us hope. Initiatives like the Digital Literacy for All programme by NITDA, tech empowerment bootcamps, and non-profit-led outreach events are steps in the right direction. But they are drops in an ocean of need. We must scale up, replicate, and embed such initiatives into national development frameworks.

Let us not wait until Nigeria’s children become another statistic or headline. Let us act now.

On this 2025 Children’s Day, as we clap for performances and distribute cakes, let us remember that celebration without commitment is hollow. The child who dances today must not sleep hungry tonight. The child who marches today must not drop out of school tomorrow. The theme “Tapping the Untapped Natural Treasure” should not fade with the balloons and banners. It must ring in our hearts as a national mission.

The real question is not whether Nigeria has treasure. The real question is whether we have the courage to dig deep, invest wisely, and protect fiercely — so that our children can truly shine, not just on Children’s Day, but every day.

Because when we secure the child, we secure the nation.