The United Nations Children’s Fund has warned that over 2.1 million Nigerian 🇳🇬 children have never received a single vaccine, making the country the highest in the world with zero-dose children.
The UNICEF official urged both federal and state governments to redouble investments in immunisation and primary healthcare delivery, stressing that no child should be left behind.
Malnutrition
Saeed also warned that malnutrition remains a major threat to child survival in Nigeria.
According to her, about 15 million children under the age of five are malnourished, while 3.5 million suffer from severe acute malnutrition.
“In 2025 alone, 420,000 children could die if nothing changes,” she cautioned, adding that 40% of children under five years children are stunted and may never reach their full potential without urgent action.
She called for increased funding, local food solutions, and expanded treatment centres to save lives.
Education in Crisis
On education, Saeed described the sector as being “in crisis.”
Only 27 percent of children between ages 7 and 14 can read with comprehension, while 75 percent cannot perform basic mathematics, she said.
“The education crisis is both about access and quality,” she noted, urging urgent investment in classrooms, recruitment of qualified teachers, and stronger education reforms.
Reaffirming UNICEF’s support, Saeed said the agency’s priority is to ensure that every child in Nigeria is vaccinated, nourished, and educated.
“If we succeed in these areas, we can transform the lives of millions of Nigerian children and secure the country’s future,” she added.
