By Prosper Okoye- Abuja Correspondent
A child rights advocate, Oyeyemi Pitan, has raised concerns over the growing threat posed by drug abuse and insecurity to the future of Nigerian children, urging authorities to strengthen tobacco control measures and improve access to quality education across the country.
Pitan, the Executive Director of Gem Hub Initiative, spoke on Saturday in Abuja during the Book Hangout 2026, an event organised to commemorate Children’s Day.
According to her, increasing cases of substance abuse among young people require urgent intervention before the situation escalates into a more complex and costly national challenge.
“There is a growing concern that young people are getting involved in substance use. We must act now rather than wait until the problem becomes more difficult and expensive to address,” she said.
She also expressed concern over the worsening security situation in parts of the country, noting that frequent kidnappings and attacks on schools have created fear among parents and discouraged many from sending their children to school.
Pitan warned that declining school attendance could have far-reaching consequences for literacy, educational attainment, and national development.
It’s going to discourage school attendance, and that will lead to a drop in educational levels and literacy levels. That is what we do not want,” she said.
She linked Nigeria’s growing population of out-of-school children to broader security challenges, stressing that children who lack access to education are more vulnerable to criminal exploitation and recruitment into armed groups.
“We found ourselves here because a lot of children are out of school. Most of them can be convinced to become part of banditry and other atrocities that we are experiencing right now,” she stated.
The event, themed “Reading! One Language! Different Tongues!”, was organised by the LaVie Readers Hub, Gem Hub Initiative, and Reconcilers Children Academy. It brought together children from both rural and urban communities to encourage reading, literacy development, and social inclusion.
Pitan explained that the initiative was designed to bridge social divides and ensure that children from underserved communities are not left behind.
“We do not only focus on children from privileged families. We also reach children in rural communities and urban slums to ensure they are not left behind,” she said.
She called for increased investment in education, school infrastructure, and child protection systems, emphasising that safe and supportive learning environments are critical to the nation’s progress.
“We need children to believe in this country and contribute to its development. That can only happen when they are safe and have access to quality education,” she added.
The advocate further urged political leaders, parents, and educators to promote positive values and celebrate academic excellence, discipline, and hard work.
“We need to be deliberate about what we celebrate as a society. Children should see that effort, education and positive contributions are rewarded,” she said.
Despite the challenges confronting the country, Pitan expressed optimism that Nigeria could still achieve better outcomes if leaders place greater emphasis on security, education, and youth development.
“If we invest in our children and provide quality education, we will build the Nigeria of our dreams. We can still get it right, but we must be deliberate about it,” she said.
Also speaking at the event, Walshak Myalshak, a parent of participating children, said programmes such as the Book Hangout are helping to revive reading culture among young people who are increasingly distracted by digital devices.
He noted that reduced access to school libraries and growing screen time have contributed to a decline in reading habits among children compared to previous generations.
One of the participants, student Nwankwo Chinazom, described the programme as engaging and impactful, saying the interactive sessions made reading more enjoyable.
Chinazom, who aspires to become a medical doctor and health economist, said she enjoys reading books more than watching movies. She revealed that she recently read the acclaimed novel Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and the play Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw.
According to her, participation in the initiative has strengthened her reading culture and significantly improved her English language skills.
