The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the welfare, protection and development of children across Nigeria as the country marks the 2026 Children’s Day celebration.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Assistant on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communications, Desmond Utomwen, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, described children as the foundation of sustainable national development.
Orelope-Adefulire said investment in the wellbeing of children remains critical to securing Nigeria’s future and achieving long-term national progress.
According to the statement, ensuring children’s access to quality education, healthcare, nutrition, protection and social support aligns directly with several Sustainable Development Goals, including Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 16.
She noted that Nigeria’s development aspirations can only be realised through deliberate efforts aimed at creating safe environments, expanding educational opportunities and improving healthcare services for children.
The presidential aide maintained that providing children with the right support systems would enable them to grow, thrive and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Orelope-Adefulire also highlighted ongoing interventions by OSSAP-SDGs targeted at improving the living conditions of vulnerable groups across the country.
According to her, the office has continued to implement projects including the construction and rehabilitation of classrooms, healthcare facilities, water supply schemes, skills acquisition centres and other social infrastructure nationwide.
She further called on governments at all levels, parents, teachers, development partners, private sector organisations and community leaders to strengthen collaboration on child protection, moral upbringing, digital inclusion and youth empowerment.
Orelope-Adefulire stressed that protecting and empowering children is not only a social responsibility but also a critical pathway to sustainable development, peace and national prosperity.
The statement added that OSSAP-SDGs remains committed to building a society where every Nigerian child, regardless of social or economic background, has equal opportunity to survive, learn, grow and realise their full potential.
