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AHERI, Advocacy for Healing, Empowerment and Resilience Initiative
State domestication · Signed 2003 · AHERI RECHT

Child Rights Act 2003

The law that protects every child in Nigeria under the age of 18: their safety, their education and their voice.

Key provisions

1A child is anyone under 18 years of age.
2In every decision about a child, the best interests of the child come first.
3Every child has a right to free, compulsory basic education.
4No child may be married or betrothed. Marriage under 18 is not allowed.
5Protects children from abuse, neglect, exploitation and harmful work.
6Sets up Family Courts to hear matters about children.
7Applies directly in the FCT. Each state must pass its own version for it to apply there.

Where it stands across Nigeria

As tracked on 28 September 2026, 35 of the 36 states have adopted the Child Rights Act. Gombe is the only state yet to adopt it. In the FCT the federal law applies directly.

Abia State: AdoptedAdamawa State: AdoptedAkwa Ibom State: AdoptedAnambra State: AdoptedBauchi State: AdoptedBayelsa State: AdoptedBenue State: AdoptedBorno State: AdoptedCross River State: AdoptedDelta State: AdoptedEbonyi State: AdoptedEdo State: AdoptedEkiti State: AdoptedEnugu State: AdoptedGombe State: Not yet adoptedImo State: AdoptedJigawa State: AdoptedKaduna State: AdoptedKano State: AdoptedKatsina State: AdoptedKebbi State: AdoptedKogi State: AdoptedKwara State: AdoptedLagos State: AdoptedNasarawa State: AdoptedNiger State: AdoptedOgun State: AdoptedOndo State: AdoptedOsun State: AdoptedOyo State: AdoptedPlateau State: AdoptedRivers State: AdoptedSokoto State: AdoptedTaraba State: AdoptedYobe State: AdoptedZamfara State: AdoptedFederal Capital Territory: Federal law applies directly
Tap or hover over a state to see its name and status.
Adopted 35 of 37Federal law applies directly 1 of 37Not yet adopted 1 of 37
All 36 states and the FCT
Adopted (35)
Federal law applies directly (1)
Not yet adopted (1)
What it means for you

A child has the right to go to school, to be safe and to be heard. Nobody may marry a child.

How AHERI uses this law

AHERI RECHT teaches children and parents their rights in CARE HUB school sessions and at the CARE CIRCLE, and the CARE HUB helps students report abuse safely.

SourcesUNICEF Nigeria, Child Rights Act briefsAHERI law tracker, last checked 28 September 2026
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