The laughter of children echoed faintly through the compound of Facado Children’s Home in Abuja, but beneath the songs and celebrations of Children’s Day lay a deeper, more unsettling reality, fear, uncertainty, and a desperate call for protection.
For many of the children gathered to mark the 2026 Children’s Day, the occasion was not just about celebration, but about survival.
Ten-year-old Daniel Ben stood before guests, his small frame carrying a message far bigger than himself. His dream is simple yet profound, to become a Civil Engineer and live in a peaceful Nigeria. But that dream, he fears, is slipping further away in a country grappling with rising insecurity.
“I want to live in a good society… I want this country to have peace,” he said quietly, calling on authorities to rescue children reportedly abducted in the Ogbomoso area of Oyo State.
His words captured the mood of the day, a blend of hope and anxiety shared by children who have already endured loss, and anow face the growing threat of violence.
Childhood Interrupted by Fear
Across Nigeria, insecurity has steadily crept into spaces once considered safe, homes, schools, and communities. For orphans and vulnerable children, the impact is even more profound. Already deprived of parental care, many now live under the constant shadow of abduction, displacement, and neglect.
At the Abuja orphanage, that fear is real.
Fifteen-year-old King David spoke with a maturity shaped by circumstance. He did not ask for luxuries, only safety, shelter, and a chance at dignity.
“I want the government to help fatherless and motherless children… build homes and support us,” he said, urging both leaders and wealthy citizens to act.
Another child, Favor Ben, revealed how insecurity is reshaping their daily lives. School, once a place of learning and hope, has become a source of anxiety.
“We are scared to go to school because we don’t know what will happen,” she said. “We are begging the government to take the safety of children seriously.”
Insecurity as a ‘Thief of Dreams’
For Mrs. Ngozi Grace Anih George, Founder of the Fatherless Motherless Children Aid Organisation (FACADO), the crisis goes beyond statistics, it is a systematic erosion of childhood itself.
“Insecurity is a thief of dreams,” she said. “It robs children of safety, education, and joy.”
She described a country where communities are torn apart, schools are abandoned, and children are forced to grow up too quickly. For orphans, the burden is heavier, they are often the most exposed, the least protected, and the easiest to overlook.
“When children who have already lost their parents are faced with violence and fear, they become voiceless and at risk of being forgotten,” she added.
Beyond security concerns, survival within the orphanage itself is a daily challenge.
The Struggle Behind the Shelter
Feeding over 40 children has become increasingly difficult amid rising food costs. According to the children, a bag of rice lasts barely two weeks. Basic needs such as transportation also remain unmet, limiting access to education and healthcare.
Yet, despite these constraints, the home continues to function, driven by commitment, compassion, and community support.
Mrs. Magdalene Martins Achanyi, a widow and beneficiary, spoke of the lifeline the organisation provides. From school fees to welfare support, FACADO has become a refuge for families with nowhere else to turn.
“They are doing a good job reaching out to people like us,” she said. “Government should support them so they can help more families.”
Inclusion Beyond Rhetoric
This year’s Children’s Day theme:“Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child”, resonated strongly throughout the event. But for stakeholders, inclusion must go beyond slogans.
Mrs. George stressed that every child, regardless of background, disability, or circumstance, deserves equal access to opportunities and protection.
“Every child counts,” she said. “No child should be excluded because they are orphaned, vulnerable, or living with a disability. Policies must reflect this reality.”
Her message is clear: inclusion is not charity, it is a right.
A Nation at a Crossroads
For Pastor Moses Yusuf, insecurity remains the most urgent challenge confronting Nigeria today. Without safety, he argued, every other intervention loses its meaning.
“No matter what government provides, it is only the living that can benefit,” he said. “Security must come first.”
As Nigeria looks ahead to the 2027 general elections, the voices from Facado Children’s Home serve as a stark reminder of what is at stake, not just political power, but the future of a generation.
Beyond Celebration
Children’s Day is often marked with colourful events and symbolic gestures. But for the children in this Abuja orphanage, the day was a platform, a rare opportunity to be heard.
Their message was simple but urgent: protect us, include us, and give us a chance to dream.
Because without decisive action on insecurity and child welfare, those dreams may never be realised.
And as the celebration drew to a close with prayers for peace, one truth lingered in the air, Nigeria’s children are watching, waiting, and hoping for a future that feels safe enough to believe in.
