Chioma Umeha
The high economic cost of violence against
children in Nigeria has been revealed in an unprecedented report, launched
jointly by UNICEF and the Federal Government, under the leadership of the
Ministry of Budget and National Planning and the Federal Ministry of Women
Affairs and Social Development.
According to the report, the economic impact of
the violence against children in Nigeria is estimated to be about USD$6.1
billion, which is equivalent to about 1.07 per cent of the country’s GDP, a
statement signed by Oluwatosin Akingbulu, Communication Officer, United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said weekend.
This financial loss is from the cumulative loss of
earnings due to loss of productivity, stemming from suffering associated with
different degrees of violence, over time.
“The cost of inaction is high, when it comes to
violence against children,” said Mrs. Ifeoma Anagbogu, Permanent Secretary of
the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
“Violence affects children’s health, education,
and productivity. It is clear that we need to eliminate any form of violence
against children – both from a moral perspective and an economic
perspective.”
The report revealed that about half of the
Nigerian children surveyed experienced physical violence by parents, adult
relatives, direct or indirect caregivers or community members, before they
reached 18.
“The findings of this study point to the strong
need for increased funding of interventions by government to reduce violence
against children in Nigeria,” said Mr Olajide S. Odewale, Permanent Secretary
of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.
It was noted that the study may actually
underestimate the economic burden of violence against children, as several
serious consequences of such violence were not included, due to a current lack
of data.
The evidence presented in the report indicates an
urgent need to provide child protection services in Nigeria and prioritise the
elimination of violence against children, which can ensure the country’s human
capital has the mental, physical, and emotional stability needed to boost its
social and economic development.
“This year marks the 30th anniversary of the
Convention of the Rights of the Child, giving us an opportunity to join our
collective efforts to protecting children from violence, abuse and neglect.
This includes a re-commitment to increase investment in child protection
services,” said Mohamed Malick Fall, UNICEF’s Country Representative in
Nigeria.
The research on violence against children was led
by the Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with UNICEF, and with funding
from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), through USAID,
the EU and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
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