The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued a fresh stark reminder that insecurity and poor infrastructure are actively undermining the childhood and cognitive development of millions of Nigerian children.
Speaking at the International Day of Play celebration organised by UNICEF in partnership with the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) at the LASUBEB premises in Ikeja on Thursday, the Chief of the UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere, warned that the school compound — traditionally a safe haven — has become “a place of fear.”
Lafoucriere highlighted an unsettling disparity, noting that while some children participated in the festivities, millions of others across Nigeria remain trapped in environments defined by fear and deprivation.
She noted that 2026 continues to see a disturbing trend of student abductions across multiple regions.
“In recent months, children have been taken into captivity from their schools in Borno, Niger, and Kebbi states, and just last month, in nearby Oyo State,” Lafoucriere said.
She lamented that many abducted students have still not returned home, calling the crisis the undeniable, grim “reality of childhood in the country.”
According to UNICEF, this pervasive threat of violence has triggered a psychological barrier to education, with parents now too terrified to send their children to school and children themselves often too afraid to attend.
Beyond the threat of violence, Lafoucriere highlighted systemic structural failures that prevent children from playing, noting that even in areas unaffected by direct violence, too many children are still denied their developmental rights.
She identified primary barriers to include overcrowded classrooms, lack of physical space within school compounds, absence of dedicated time for recreational activities and a shortage of basic play materials.
Defending the critical role of recreation, the UNICEF chief rejected the notion that play is a luxury or a secondary reward reserved for after schoolwork, arguing instead that play is a fundamental component of cognitive growth.
“When a child plays, their brain grows,” Lafoucriere explained. “No worksheet can do what play does. Play is not a reward for finishing work. Play is the work. And no child should be denied that—not by overcrowded classrooms, and not by anyone with a gun.”
Lafoucriere concluded with an urgent appeal to journalists, government officials and parents to recognise the direct link between physical safety and intellectual growth, emphasising that an unsafe child cannot learn and a child barred from playing cannot reach their full potential.
“Our children are watching,” she warned. “Let us not let them down.”
In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of LASUBEB, Dr Hakeem Shittu, also underscored the importance of play to a child’s total development, stating that Lagos State integrates play into child development, including for children with special needs.
“That is why we ensure our schools are stocked with different toys and storybooks to effectively support our pupils. We also encourage parents to allow and engage their children to play at home under proper guidance,” Shittu said.
He commended UNICEF for partnering with the state government to support child development, adding that these efforts are yielding tremendous results. He also thanked the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his passion and resource allocation towards providing quality education for every child in Lagos.
Education Specialist with UNICEF Nigeria, Yetunde Oluwatosin, highlighted that proper early childhood development is the surest way for children to become holistic learners, adding that the effort requires all stakeholders, noting that “it takes a village to raise a total child.”
Oluwatosin emphasised the need for continuity between school and home, questioning how parents can better understand and participate in their children’s school activities.
“It is critical to have a safe environment for them to play and learn both in school and at home. To ensure quality early childhood education, teachers must be adequately trained to deliver play-based learning. The play aspect is vital in early childhood development, and the effort must be multisectoral,” Oluwatosin stressed.
Some of the teachers and parents at the event expressed enthusiasm for the advocacy, confirming to Nigerian Tribune that children who are allowed to play learn faster and better.
