ADOPT UHURU CHILDREN’S RIGHTS TEXTBOOK AS THE NATIONAL CHILDREN HANDBOOK: A CALL TO ACTION FOR POLICYMAKERS AND LEADERS

By Comr. Uchenna Umez

Published on December 21, 2025

"Deny a child his or her rights today and wait for them to steal your comfort tomorrow"...Comrade Uchenna Umez

In Nigeria today, the future of our children hangs in the balance. Across the country, street begging, child exploitation, and gross neglect continue to fuel banditry, terrorism, and other social vices. Yet, solutions exist—and one of the most practical and immediate measures is education.

UHURU Children’s Rights Textbook is a meticulously designed and graphically illustrated resource, reviewed and approved by the Nigerian Educational Research Development Council, NERDC, which equips children with knowledge of their rights and responsibilities, fostering awareness, discipline, and resilience from a young age. HURRAFORUM calls on policymakers, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the 36 States’ Boards of Basic Education (SUBEBs), the FCT, and the Nigerian First Lady alongside all State First Ladies to adopt this textbook as the “National Children Handbook” for every primary school child in Nigeria.

This is not merely an academic initiative—it is a matter of national security and moral responsibility. Under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Universal Basic Education Act 2004, the Child Rights Act 2003, and the respective child rights laws of all states, governments are duty-bound to protect, educate, and nurture children. Any state that still permits street begging or neglects the welfare of children is inadvertently contributing to the rise of social vices, insecurity, and instability within its borders.

History teaches us that proactive leadership saves lives and prevents crises. As the saying goes, “One of the true tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency.” Leaders who act now to institutionalize children’s rights education are not only safeguarding the future of Nigeria but are also cementing a legacy of justice, equity, and vision.

We urge all relevant authorities to endorse, implement, and scale the distribution of the UHURU Children’s Rights Textbook nationwide. Let us make child neglect and ignorance a relic of the past, and empower our children to grow into informed, responsible, and resilient citizens.

HURRAFORUM stands ready to support this initiative through advocacy, monitoring, and collaboration with all stakeholders. Together, we can make the National Children Handbook a reality and lay the foundation for a safer, stronger, and brighter Nigeria.