Minister to Nigerian Children: Start Partnering Across Gender Lines Now, Not Later
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has urged Nigerian children to begin practicing partnership and mutual respect across gender lines from the classroom, saying inclusivity must start now, not later.
Speaking at the 2026 Children’s Carnival in Abuja on May 26, the Minister told children that building the nation requires everyone to play their role. “Everybody has their role, even the children have their roles. They have the responsibility to be good children, to be law abiding, forward thinking, progressive when it comes to the Nigerian project,” she said.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim charged the children to be “your brother/sister’s keeper” and to cultivate positive masculinity early. “Let the boys get used to having the girls around and let the girls get used to being partners in progress and prosperity with the boys. It’s not when you get to the chambers and they say, oh, equal opportunities, let it start from now, from the classroom,” she said.
The Minister highlighted that the 2026 celebration, themed _Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child_, is backed by concrete government reforms. She highlighted the launch of Nigeria’s first National Care Policy and the Caregivers Forum, designed to create enabling platforms for children to compete globally. “We’ve been able to reiterate the ongoing reforms, even for the Nigerian child – from the strengthening of the legal instruments to creating enabling platforms for the Nigerian child to compete,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim added
She disclosed that government is strengthening legal instruments to protect children and ensure no child is left behind.
She pointed out that as part of the celebrations, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, hosted 1,000 children including orphanages and the School of the Deaf. The Ministry also revived the tradition of the Children’s March Past. “This is not the end but just the beginning,” she said, promising that next year’s celebration will be bigger based on “intentional successes that will be recorded in 2026.”
Addressing the children directly, she said: “Nigerian children, you are smart, faithful, God-fearing, you are our pride, you are pacesetters. Nigerian children are our ambassadors, they are our future and the future is now. I want you to know that you are loved, you are cherished.”
Sulaiman-Ibrahim thanked the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the Planning Committee for Children’s Day 2026, the Permanent Secretary, and the First Lady for her support. She also commended parents for participating in the celebrations.
The Minister concluded: “We’ll celebrate the Nigerian child, every day, every second, every minute because they are worthy of celebration and the best is yet to come. The work is in progress but it takes all hands on deck.”
