85 per cent of Nigerian children feel under most pressure to succeed ― UNICEF

Nigeria tops the list of countries globally with 85 per cent of its children and young people feeling the most pressure to succeed globally, according to a new international survey by UNICEF and Gallup, released ahead of World Children’s Day, marked annually on 20 November.

Data from the survey reveals that in Nigeria as much as 85 per cent say they feel a greater pressure to succeed than their elders – the highest of all 21 countries surveyed, with young people in Lebanon a close second.

It indicates also that young person in Nigeria are facing a mental health challenge, with 1 in 6 young Nigerians aged 15 -24 saying they often feel depressed, have little interest in doing things, or are worried, nervous, or anxious.

The poll, The Changing Childhood Project, is the first of its kind to ask multiple generations for their views on what it is like to be a child today had surveyed more than 21,000 people in 21 countries, including Nigeria.

UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Peter Hawkins stated “Children and young people in Nigeria clearly have a high level of concern about many and varied issues, compared to their peers in other countries. We need to take action. And the first step is to solicit their views, really listen closely and allow their concerns and ideas to influence our policy decisions.

“The future of Nigeria belongs to its children and young people – they have the right to be heard, have their needs addressed and their solutions explored. It is only through commitment to understanding and investing more in our children and young people’s presents and futures that we can maximize every child’s potential and ensure they have a full and happy life.”

The nationally representative surveys were undertaken in countries across all regions, Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America. It also took into consideration income levels across two age cohorts (15-24 years old and 40 years old and up).

The survey, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, had examined young people’s opinions about their mental health, worldview, trust in institutions, the importance of equality, climate change, and digital benefits and risks, among others.

Findings from the survey also show that young Nigerians are more concerned than young people in any other country surveyed about personal information being collected and shared online, at 72 per cent. The next highest are young people in Indonesia, at 63 per cent, and Kenya, at 54 per cent.

Children and young people in Nigeria also show high levels of concern about the risks of meeting someone in person after meeting them online, at 84 per cent, slightly higher than children in the United States (81 per cent) and Brazil (82 per cent).

In the area of finances, young Nigerians again showed a high level of concern, with 74 per cent of females and 66 per cent of males worried they don’t have enough money for food.

The poll also shows a gender disparity in the views of young people in Nigeria. Girls are 26 per cent less likely to trust the police than boys and girls are 10 per cent more likely to think it is equally important for both boys and girls to learn how to understand personal finances.

Also, boys are 28 per cent more likely than girls to think it is acceptable for a parent to physically punish a child; boys are four percent more likely to think it is very important to treat females equally but despite these challenges and gender divides, young Nigerians are optimistic about their future.

Compared to their elders, they believe children and young people today receive better quality healthcare, education and access to clean water than their parents did. Almost 70 per cent of males and 80 per cent of females also believe they will be economically better off than their parents.

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