•Celine Lafoucriere with children
Millions of Nigerian children are being denied safe education as schools increasingly become centres of fear amid abductions, worsening insecurity, overcrowded classrooms and poor learning conditions, UNICEF warned today, raising alarm over threats to their rights and development.
Speaking at the 2026 International Day of Play celebration organised by UNICEF in partnership with the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), the Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere, said a disturbing wave of school kidnappings and unsafe learning conditions was redefining childhood across the country, reports Daily Independent.
Addressing stakeholders at the event themed, “Protect Play, Protect Childhood,” Lafoucriere, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) boss cited recent abductions of schoolchildren in Borno, Niger, Kebbi and Oyo states as evidence of a growing crisis confronting Nigerian children.
“Right now, across this country, there are children who cannot say they are safe,” she said, noting that some of the abducted children were yet to return home.
She lamented that many parents now live in fear of sending their children to school, while children themselves increasingly view schools as unsafe environments.
“The school compound, which should be the safest place in a child’s life, has become a place of fear,” she stated.
Beyond insecurity, Lafoucriere identified overcrowded classrooms, inadequate learning materials and the absence of safe recreational spaces as major obstacles preventing children from engaging in play, which she described as essential to learning and brain development.
According to her, play is not merely a recreational activity but a critical component of childhood development that supports emotional, social and intellectual growth.
“When a child plays, their brain grows. When they explore, build and interact with friends, they are learning. Play is not a reward for finishing work. Play is the work,” she said.
The UNICEF official warned that denying children opportunities to play could have long-term consequences on their development, stressing that no child should lose such opportunities because of insecurity, overcrowding or poor educational conditions.
She called for urgent and coordinated action by governments, communities, parents, schools and development partners to address both child protection and education challenges.
“A child who is not safe cannot learn. A child who cannot play will not grow into who they are meant to be. These two things are connected, and both of them need fixing now,” she said.
Lafoucriere further expressed concern over Nigeria’s persistent out-of-school children crisis, insisting that access to education remains a fundamental right that must be protected.
She emphasised that safeguarding children’s rights requires collective responsibility, particularly at a time when insecurity continues to spread across different parts of the country.
“In the current context in Nigeria, where children are under threat from kidnappings occurring across the country, it is important that we rally together and defend the rights to education and play for our children,” she added.
Also speaking at the event, Executive Chairman of Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr Hakeem Shittu, underscored the importance of creating safe and supportive environments that promote children’s happiness, learning and development.
He said children learn more effectively through play and social interaction, stressing that early childhood development cannot thrive without opportunities for children to freely express themselves.
“When children are happy, they learn more. When they interact, it improves their communication and mental development,” he said.
Shittu maintained that Lagos schools remained inclusive and committed to providing equal educational opportunities for all children regardless of background or physical condition.
He added that government interventions, including the provision of books, uniforms, bags and other learning materials, were aimed at strengthening access to quality education.
UNICEF Education Specialist, Yetunde Oluwatosi, said the agency had continued to support government efforts through parental engagement initiatives designed to reinforce learning both at home and in schools.
She explained that effective early childhood development extends beyond the classroom and requires collaboration among parents, teachers and communities.
Oluwatosi also highlighted the importance of teacher capacity, child protection, nutrition and health services, describing early childhood education as a multi-sectoral responsibility.
The UNICEF warning comes amid growing concerns over the safety of schools and the increasing number of children facing barriers to education across Nigeria, reinforcing calls for urgent measures to protect learning environments and secure the future of the nation’s children.
