Children’s Day in Nigeria is not just a day on the calendar. It is a significant national moment for reflection on the state of the country’s youngest citizens, and a call to action for society to protect, nurture, and empower them. The 2025 celebration held on May 26 in Abuja, organized by Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Nigeria in partnership with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), exemplified this purpose. More than a festive gathering, the event was a powerful platform to highlight the rights, dreams, and dignity of every child, with a clear focus on empowerment, values-based education, and peacebuilding.
GPF Nigeria celebrates Children’s Day with peacebuilding forum.
Hosted at the NTA Arena in Garki and broadcast live on NTA Knowledge, the event brought together over 1,500 children from more than 17 schools across Abuja, including schools for children with special needs. Millions of viewers from within Nigeria and abroad tuned in to witness a celebration rooted in the shared responsibility of families, communities, and institutions to invest in children holistically, not just financially, but emotionally, morally, and intellectually.
In her welcome address, Mrs. Bukola Da-Silva, General Manager of NTA Knowledge, reminded attendees that the future of any society depends on how well it invests in its children. She praised the event’s collaborative approach and reaffirmed NTA’s dedication to delivering content that educates and uplifts young minds. She added that for her and many others present, Children’s Day is more than a ritual; it is a responsibility.
GPF Nigeria celebrates Children’s Day with peacebuilding forum.
Several dignitaries echoed this sentiment. Representatives from the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, the Create That Change Initiative, and the National Council for Arts and Culture delivered goodwill messages centered on creating an all-encompassing and nurturing environment for all children. Special emphasis was placed on catering to children with disabilities, recognizing their right to equal opportunities for expression, participation, and development.
One of the most powerful messages of the day came from Rev. John Joseph Hayab, Country Director of GPF Nigeria, whose remarks were delivered through the Foundation’s Youth and Education Officer. He emphasized that Children’s Day should serve as a solemn reminder of the fundamental rights of children, many of which remain unmet across the country. He called on stakeholders, including parents, teachers, policymakers, and media professionals, to recommit to protecting and empowering children to become peacebuilders, leaders, and change agents. “You are the heartbeat of this nation,” he said, addressing the children, “Your laughter brings hope, your curiosity drives innovation, and your potential is limitless.”
GPF Nigeria celebrates Children’s Day with peacebuilding forum.
In line with GPF Nigeria’s mission of promoting peace through values education, the celebration featured a series of performances that gave children a platform to showcase their creativity and perspectives. A standout moment was the presentation of “Echoes of Peace,” a poetic and musical performance by students from High Grade International School, Mararaba. Their verses championed unity in diversity, mutual respect, and harmony, moving the audience with lines like, “In diversity, we find our strength, united we stand in love…”
The 2025 Children’s Day Celebration aligned with GPF Nigeria’s broader vision of integrating peace and values education into everyday life and of fostering collaboration among education, media, civil society, and faith institutions. It demonstrated a scalable model of children’s programming that centers moral development and civic responsibility. More importantly, it affirmed that children, no matter their background or ability, can be empowered to build a peaceful and united nation.
