The Child Rights Act (CRA), passed in 2003, remains one of Nigeria’s most significant legal milestones for safeguarding the well-being, protection, and dignity of every child. It domesticated key international instruments, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, signalling Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring that children enjoy their rights to survival, development, protection, and participation.
Over the years, the Child Rights Act has served as a guiding framework for addressing the many vulnerabilities children face, from poverty and harmful cultural practices to violence, exploitation, and limited access to essential services. The Act outlines enforceable rights, clear responsibilities for families, institutions and the states; and penalties for violations.
Although all 36 states and the FCT have now domesticated the Law, implementation strength varies widely. Some states have made significant institutional progress through functional family courts, child protection units, and structured welfare systems. In contrast, others continue to struggle with cultural resistance, low awareness, insecurity, and limited funding. These gaps impact how effectively children are protected across the country.
This factsheet provides an accessible overview of the Laws in Nigeria. It highlights the implementation status across states, outlines context-specific constraints on enforcement, and identifies significant challenges, including poverty, gaps in the justice system, and insecurity. It also distils national recommendations needed to strengthen child protection structures and improve the well-being of children across all regions.
By presenting these insights in one place, the factsheet aims to support policymakers, practitioners, civil society actors, and development partners as they work to improve the protection and opportunities available to Nigerian children.
For more inquiries or further information, please contact:
📞 Phone: 08091257245
📧 Email: info@partnersnigeria.org
🌐 Website: www.partnersnigeria.org
Kindly click the button below to download a copy of our factsheet
Download