From Voice to Influence: Nigeria’s Journey to Meaningful Child Participation (2026)

This case study highlights Save the Children Nigeria’s approach to strengthening meaningful child participation through a range of child-led platforms that enable children and young people to influence decisions affecting their lives. The initiative demonstrates how structured engagement mechanisms, including Children’s Parliaments, Child Rights Advocacy Clubs, Girl Champions, Youth Ambassadors, and the Child Advisory Group (CAG), have moved children from consultation to active participation in governance, policy dialogue, advocacy, and accountability processes.

The document presents evidence of how child-led platforms have contributed to policy influence, community-level advocacy, leadership development, education financing discussions, and child rights accountability. Notable achievements include support for child-friendly budgeting, domestication of the Safe Schools Policy, improved child-led advocacy on rights and protection issues, increased leadership opportunities for girls, and the establishment of mechanisms that amplify children’s voices within organisational governance structures.

A key focus is the Child Advisory Group, which serves as a formal platform for children to represent their peers, provide advice on programmes and advocacy priorities, and promote accountability and child rights. The case study demonstrates that when children are recognised as partners in decision-making, they contribute valuable perspectives that strengthen programme relevance, governance, and social change outcomes.