Today, May 27th, is Nigeria’s Children’s Day—a significant day dedicated to celebrating the young hearts and minds that hold the promise of tomorrow.
While kids across the country enjoy parades, parties, and performances, the deeper purpose of this day is to reflect on our collective responsibility to raise, protect, and equip them with tools that outlive toys.
The true celebration of children isn’t about buying them the newest gadgets — it’s about giving them things that can never be taken away. Things that appreciate over time, shaping them into whole, capable, and confident adults.
Here are seven invaluable gifts that every Nigerian parent can give their child, not just on Children’s Day, but for life.
1. A Solid Value System
Morals and values are the invisible backbone of any human being. Children who are taught honesty, empathy, respect, kindness, and responsibility grow up to be adults who add value to society rather than take from it.
A strong value system cannot be stolen, lost, or outdated — it becomes the compass that guides decision-making in every season of life.
In a world filled with shortcuts and instant gratification, raising a value-driven child is a long-term investment that multiplies in worth.
Values form the foundation for integrity, character, and trustworthiness.
These are what employers seek, what relationships thrive on, and what leaders are made of.
Start with stories, real-life conversations, consistent correction, and modeling these virtues in your daily life.
2. Self-Confidence
There’s no greater armor in life than a strong sense of self-worth. Confident children become adults who are less likely to be manipulated, bullied, or derailed by societal pressure. They are more willing to take healthy risks, express their thoughts, and fight for their dreams.
Confidence is not arrogance — it is assurance in one’s identity and capabilities. It’s built over time through affirmations, responsibility, celebration of effort (not just success), and giving them room to fail forward.
On this special Children’s Day, take a moment to look your child in the eye and tell them, “You are enough. You are loved. You can become anything.” Those words will echo for decades.
3. Education (Formal and Informal)
Nothing opens doors like knowledge. Education is not just about school grades; it’s about opening a child’s mind to the world around them. While formal schooling gives structure and literacy, informal education — such as teaching financial literacy, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and cultural history — gives children an edge that classrooms alone cannot provide.
Give your child books. Take them to museums. Let them try new hobbies. Expose them to documentaries. Teach them about other cultures. Education is the gift that multiplies with use and transcends borders.
When Nigerian children are educated broadly and deeply, they grow into globally relevant, locally grounded citizens who can contribute meaningfully to society.
4. A Listening Ear and Emotional Safety
The world is already loud. Children need a quiet place to land — and that place is the heart of a present parent. Giving your child consistent emotional safety is a priceless inheritance. When a child knows they can speak freely without judgment, manipulation, or mockery, you build trust that lasts a lifetime.
Being listened to affirms their sense of value. It also teaches them how to communicate effectively, handle conflict, and process their emotions.
Be the parent who asks, “How do you feel?” not just, “What did you do?” Create a safe emotional space, and your child will grow up with resilience, self-awareness, and peace of mind — gifts no economy can affect.
5. A Deep Sense of Identity and Heritage
In a globalized world, identity confusion is a real threat. Children who are grounded in their identity and roots have stronger emotional stability and a greater sense of belonging.
Celebrate your ethnic roots. Teach your child your native language, folklore, customs, and cultural values. Let them know they come from greatness.
In Nigeria, a child who understands their identity can navigate the world with confidence and self-assurance. Heritage is an asset that can’t be stolen, and pride in one’s roots fosters dignity and self-respect.
6. The Habit of Discipline and Delayed Gratification
One of the greatest gifts you can give your child is the ability to say, “No — not yet.” In a world of fast likes and instant access, the power of patience and perseverance is more valuable than ever.
Discipline is not punishment — it is training. It teaches children structure, follow-through, and the joy of earning rewards through effort. Delayed gratification builds grit — and grit builds greatness.
A child who knows how to wait, save, plan, and stick to commitments is a future adult who knows how to build wealth, sustain relationships, and excel in their career. Let today’s Children’s Day be a reminder that character is a better investment than comfort.
7. Unconditional Love and Belief in Their Potential
Above all, give your child the unwavering belief that they are deeply loved — not for what they do, but for who they are. This gift gives them the courage to rise after failure, the motivation to dream big, and the foundation to love others in return.
Celebrate their strengths. Nurture their talents. Guide them gently through their weaknesses. Let your belief in them be louder than society’s doubt. Many adults spend a lifetime healing from a childhood where love was conditional and performance-based.
As Nigeria celebrates her children today, remember that affirmation is a gift you can give freely and daily — and its impact is lifelong.
Faith or a Moral Compass Greater Than Themselves
Whether it’s through religion, spirituality, or a strong sense of purpose, children benefit greatly from being connected to something greater than themselves. It offers comfort in crisis, hope in hardship, and a guiding framework in times of uncertainty.
This doesn’t mean forcing dogma, but rather, nurturing a sense of gratitude, compassion, humility, and moral accountability. A child who learns to pray, meditate, or simply reflect develops emotional resilience and clarity that will anchor them for life.
Faith isn’t just a belief — it’s a backbone.
What Are You Leaving Behind?
Children’s Day in Nigeria is not just for festivities — it’s a yearly check-in for parents, caregivers, and society at large. What are we giving our children that can’t be taken away by inflation, politics, or the passing of time?
We must shift focus from what can be bought to what can be built within. Because one day, the toys will break, the devices will be outdated, and the parties will be over, but the character, confidence, compassion, and consciousness we instill will keep growing.
So today, May 27th — as Nigeria lifts up her children in celebration — let us commit again to gifting them not just the world, but the wings to rise above it.
Happy Children’s Day!
