By Peter Oyedele, Abuja

As Nigeria joins other African nations to commemorate the 2025 Day of the African Child, the Erudite Growth and Advancement Foundation (ERGAF) has called on lawmakers, development partners, and stakeholders to embrace a child-centered budgeting model that prioritizes the rights and welfare of children in national planning.

Speaking at a press briefing to mark the occasion, ERGAF’s Deputy National Coordinator, Queen Ala Dokubo, highlighted this year’s theme: “One Team, Planning and Budgeting for Children’s Rights.”

Dokubo explained that the theme aims to transform public budgeting into a strategic tool for equity, protection, and inclusive access to quality education for every Nigerian child.

She noted that the African Union’s 2025 agenda—spearheaded by the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC)—urges member states to assess their progress on child-sensitive budgeting since the initiative began in 2010. The committee also recommends legislative reforms, data-driven policymaking, and the inclusion of children in national development discussions.

“This year, we’re not just celebrating the African child; we’re advocating for a fundamental shift in how Nigeria budgets for her children,” Dokubo said. “We want lawmakers to adopt inclusive, evidence-based budgeting that truly reflects children’s needs.”

Acknowledging the importance of collaboration, she expressed appreciation to EGAF’s partners, including the African Union, ECOSOC, ACERWC, Federal Ministries, UNESCO, Commonwealth Youth Council, civil society organizations, and media platforms.

“This is not just a day for speeches—it is a movement for accountability. We are laying the foundation for an Africa where every child is seen, heard, and empowered to thrive,” she added.

Delivering the keynote on behalf of ERGAF President, Ambassador Chibuzo Okereke, data analyst Raphael Tarbo revealed that a bill to establish a National Children’s Commission is currently before the House of Representatives—an initiative he described as “progress in the right direction.”

“But it doesn’t stop at legislation. We need a united front across government, civil society, and the public to ensure children’s rights are protected and funded,” Tarbo emphasized.

ERGAF has long championed child rights and education through its flagship Project Upper Life Initiative, a youth-led advocacy effort born from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) community development program. Since 2016, the initiative has supported over 10,000 underprivileged children in Abuja with scholarships, school supplies, policy dialogues, and STEM workshops.

To mark this year’s celebration, ERGAF hosted a series of interactive activities—ranging from spoken word and drama to storytelling—where schoolchildren shared their experiences with underfunded schools, unsafe learning environments, and digital exclusion.

Panel discussions featuring lawmakers, civil society leaders, and education stakeholders examined strategies for reforming public financing for child welfare.

ERGAF also announced plans to reach an additional 4,500 schoolchildren in 2025 through the distribution of learning materials, mentorship programs, and direct intervention projects.

The foundation reaffirmed its commitment to national initiatives such as the Abuja Walk for Literacy and citizenship education campaigns across 23 states.

In closing, EGAF called on policymakers, development partners, educators, and everyday citizens to turn advocacy into action—and promises into measurable progress—for the Nigerian child.