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By Prince Abdulsalami Ladigbolu‑Oranmiyan, UNESCO REF President.
As Nigeria commemorates Democracy Day alongside the International Day Against Child Labour, the nation must confront a sobering truth: child labour is not merely an economic or social problem, it is a national security crisis. Children forced into labour, hawking on streets, mining in unsafe conditions, or performing hazardous tasks are denied education and hope. Extremist groups exploit this vulnerability, turning poverty into a recruitment pipeline. Every child lost to labour is a potential recruit diverted from classrooms into conflict, from innovation into insurgency.
Nigeria’s greatest resource is not oil or minerals, it is its people. Yet child labour steadily erodes this foundation, reducing the nation’s intellectual capital and weakening its ability to compete in a knowledge‑driven world. Protecting children today is therefore not just a moral duty, it is a strategic imperative for Nigeria’s survival and growth.
Democracy is built on participation, inclusion, and opportunity. Child labour undermines these principles by silencing millions of voices before they can even be heard. A democracy that fails to protect its children is a democracy at risk.
This fight is inseparable from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
At this critical juncture, UNESCO REF President Prince Abdulsalami Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan calls upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to inject an intersection of fresh ideas that synchronize the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Information, and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. The solution to this menace is in the hands of these ministries. Nigeria must empower intellectuals, not busy driven professionals to design and implement strategies that combine cultural renewal, information management, and humanitarian outreach. This effort must also be enhanced by cooperation between the Global North and South, recognizing that child labour and terrorism are shared challenges requiring shared solutions. Nigeria’s call is not for charity, but for partnership; a partnership that secures democracy and safeguards humanity.
Nigeria cannot confront this challenge alone. UN agencies, donor bodies, and international partners must join hands with Nigeria in eradicating child labour and dismantling the recruitment pipelines of terror. Partnership must translate into investment in education, building schools, training teachers, and ensuring access to quality learning for every child. It must include social protection systems that provide safety nets for families vulnerable to child labour, counter-terrorism strategies that integrate child protection into national and regional security frameworks, and community resilience programs that empower local leaders and families to resist extremist recruitment.
The eradication of child labour is not a distant goal, it is an urgent necessity. Nigeria must strengthen its laws, enforce accountability, and prioritize education as a national security strategy. International partners must provide technical expertise, funding, and solidarity. Civil society must continue to raise awareness and hold leaders accountable. This is a fight that requires multi-sectoral collaboration: government, private sector, civil society, and international organizations working hand in hand. The stakes are too high for complacency.
On this Democracy Day, let us affirm that democracy is not measured solely by ballots, but by the futures we safeguard for our children. The fight against child labour is inseparable from the fight against terrorism. By protecting Nigeria’s children, we protect Nigeria’s democracy and by extension, the stability of Africa and the world. The time to act is now. The world must not look away. Nigeria’s children deserve more than survival, they deserve the chance to thrive, to innovate, and to lead. The measure of our collective humanity will be judged by how we respond to this crisis
The UNESCO REF is proud to announce the forthcoming formal launch of its SDGs Mission in the Arab Republic of Egypt, marking a major continental expansion of the TAP Project under Categories 2.7 and 2.8 of the scheme, in alignment with the NEPAD_EY Strategic Implementation Platform.
Egypt, a founding member of the African Union and one of Africa’s most strategically positioned nations, stands as a critical gateway for UNESCO REF’s NEPAD_EY continental education mandate.
The TAP SDGs Mission in Egypt directly contributes to:
This mission is fully aligned with:
The TAP SDGs Mission in Egypt will mobilize Egyptian and Nigerian youth, institutions, and development partners to drive generational capacity building. This initiative represents a unified effort to strengthen education, innovation, and economic opportunity across Africa.
“Egypt is not just a destination – it is a declaration of UNESCO REF’s continental purpose.”
The Educational Financing Facility Scheme (EFFS) is a flagship initiative of the UNESCO REF, under the leadership of President Prince Ladigbolu–Oranmiyan, designed to complement Nigeria’s National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). The scheme expands access to international higher education, strengthens Nigeria’s human capital development, and aligns with Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Global University Application Portal (UAPP) participates in the EFFS as a strategic partner, working with UNESCO REF to reinforce governance, transparency, and delivery, thereby strengthening the easy attainment of the scheme’s goals. The EFFS remains open for other credible institutions and stakeholders to read, engage, and partake, ensuring that the programme benefits from broad collaboration and shared responsibility.
UNESCO REF President Prince Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan stated: “The EFFS is more than financing. It is a national, continental, and global commitment to ensure that no talented Nigerian is denied the opportunity to earn accredited international credentials because of financial barriers. By complementing NELFUND, we are embedding transparency, accountability, and equity into education financing. This is Nigeria’s gift to Africa, and Africa’s contribution to the world.”
POWA President Dr. Mrs. Egbetokun emphasized: “Our youth are the custodians of Nigeria’s future. The EFFS ensures that their aspirations are matched with structured support, ethical governance, and global opportunity. It is a flagship programme that strengthens families’ confidence and positions Nigeria as a leader in human capital development.”
UAPP CEO Mr. Md Shamim added: “Through our participation in the EFFS, we are connecting Nigerian students to world class universities with a transparent and credible admissions process. This collaboration ensures that ambition is matched with opportunity, and that financing is responsibly structured under UNESCO REF’s governance. It is a model of how global collaboration can empower Africa’s next generation.”
The EFFS complements NELFUND by supporting youth empowerment, human capital development, and economic diversification. It ensures that financial barriers do not prevent talented students from pursuing global opportunities, reinforcing national strategies for innovation, employability, and sustainable growth.
The EFFS advances the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions an Africa whose development is people driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its youth. By positioning Nigerian students as global learners and future leaders, the EFFS contributes to Africa’s aspiration for inclusive growth, innovation, and prosperity.
The EFFS contributes directly to:
The EFFS is a professionally governed, student centred response to the needs of Nigerian families seeking international education. It complements NELFUND, advances Africa’s Agenda 2063, and contributes to the SDGs. With UNESCO REF providing oversight, Lichfield managing administration and pre training, UAPP participating as a strategic partner, and private partners supplying loan products, the EFFS stands as a global model for equitable, transparent, and sustainable education financing.
In furtherance of the national rollout of the Young Women in Agriculture (YWA) flagship program, Dr. Mrs. Egbetokun, UNESCO REF YWA National Advocate and President of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), led a distinguished UNESCO REF delegation on a working visit to the Governor of Osun State, His Excellency Senator Ademola Jackson Adeleke. The visit underscored the program’s strategic role in empowering women and youth, strengthening food security, and advancing sustainable development across Nigeria.
The delegation’s engagement with the Governor was designed to:
The presence of Dr. Mrs. Egbetokun as UNESCO REF YWA National Advocate and POWA President reinforced the program’s gender‑inclusive vision and symbolized the collective resolve of women leaders to champion agricultural transformation. The visit demonstrated UNESCO REF’s commitment to engaging state leadership at the highest level, ensuring that the initiative is both nationally owned and globally aligned.
The working visit to Osun State marks a significant milestone in the nationwide rollout of the Young Women in Agriculture initiative. By securing the support of Governor Adeleke and his administration, UNESCO REF and POWA strengthen their resolve to empower women and youth, enhance food security, and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s socio‑economic development. Read Full Exclusive Story on Media Centre