Happy Children’s day message from Hon. Chima Nnadi-Oforgu
Duruebube Uzii na Abosi
Happy Children’s Day to the children of Nigeria, the most resilient, abandoned, manipulated, endangered, and yet most hopeful generation this country has ever produced.
Today should not just be about colourful uniforms, dancing competitions, and empty speeches from politicians. It should be a day of deep national reflection and sober introspection.
What kind of future are we truly preparing for our children?
Millions of Nigerian children are growing up in fear, confusion, poverty, insecurity, and hopelessness. Many no longer experience the innocence that defined childhood for older generations. They are growing up in a country where kidnapping, ritual killings, cultism, drug abuse, cybercrime, prostitution, violent extremism, and social decay have become normalized parts of daily life.
A generation is being raised under crushing economic hardship while watching the political elite loot the nation’s wealth with impunity. They see corruption rewarded, integrity mocked, and hard work increasingly disconnected from success. Many children now grow up believing survival is more important than values.
Our children are also exposed early to manipulated religious extremism and rigid indoctrination that often discourages independent reasoning, creativity, scientific inquiry, and critical thinking. Instead of building confident thinkers, innovators, inventors, and nation-builders, many institutions continue producing fearful minds trapped in dogma, dependency, and division.
At the same time, dangerous cheap drugs flood our streets and communities. Substance abuse among teenagers is rising at alarming levels. Children are increasingly exposed to narcotics, violent entertainment, online exploitation, gambling addiction, pornography, and criminal influences long before emotional maturity.
What happened to the safe Nigeria where children could walk freely, attend school peacefully, and dream confidently about the future?
Today, millions of Nigerian children study in dilapidated classrooms without chairs, laboratories, electricity, internet access, libraries, or qualified teachers. Many tertiary institutions resemble abandoned camps rather than centres of excellence. Public hospitals meant for children remain underfunded, understaffed, and poorly equipped. Meanwhile, billions are squandered yearly on luxury lifestyles, political propaganda, and endless corruption.
A nation that neglects its children is actively preparing for future instability.
Government at all levels must urgently declare a national emergency on child welfare, education, mental health, drug abuse prevention, and youth development. Nigeria must massively invest in modern schools, digital education, vocational training, science and technology centres, healthcare facilities, sports development, libraries, and safe recreational environments.
We must rebuild a society where children can think freely, learn safely, grow confidently, and dream without fear.
The true wealth of any nation is not oil, not politicians, not political parties, not luxury estates, and not foreign reserves.
The true wealth of a nation is its children.
If Nigeria continues to fail its children today, tomorrow itself may become impossible to save.
Happy Children’s Day to every Nigerian child still daring to dream despite the failures of the system.
May your future not be sacrificed on the altar of corruption, greed, incompetence, and failed leadership.
OBLONG MEDIA GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE 
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