CSO Calls For Global Support For Vulnerable Children in W/Africa, Unveils Community Children Funds

Linus Aleke in Abuja

A Civil Society Organisation, Almajiri Child Rights Initiative (ACRI), has called for global support for vulnerable children in the West Africa Region to address the systemic challenges being faced by millions of vulnerable children.

ACRI also unveiled its groundbreaking initiative, code named Community Children Funds (CCF), designed to address the funding gap by providing holistic and coherent support for street connected and vulnerable children, especially those in rural communities.

A statement by Executive Director Almajiri Child Rights Initiative/Community Children’s Fund, Mohammed Keana, stated that with focus on inclusion, sustainability, and collaboration, the CCF will provide a lifeline for vulnerable children, driving progress toward achieving Africa’s Agenda 2040 and the UN SDGs.
Keana, stressed that building on ACRI’s historic advocacy for Almajiri children, the CCF expands its scope to address broader vulnerabilities, ensuring no child is left behind.

The unveiling of the fund, he said brought together global leaders, policymakers, and experts in child development, including Ambassador Fatima Kyari Mohammed, African Union Permanent Observer to the United Nations, who described the CCF as a critical intervention that aligned with Africa’s Agenda 2040 aspirations.
Mounting the podium at SOAS University of London, venue of the unveiling of the fund, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Ibrahim, said the initiative is a transformative step toward empowering children and building sustainable systems to address their needs.

The Global Director, United Nations SDG Action Campaign, Ms. Marina Ponti, emphasised the importance of international collaboration and highlighted the CCF’s alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), urging the global community to rally behind this cause.

In his keynote address, Founder, CCF and Team Lead of ACRI, Mohammed Keana articulated a bold vision for the future.

According to him, “The Community Children Funds represents more than just financial support; it is a call to action for all stakeholders to join hands in creating systems that ensure every child, regardless of their circumstances, is visible, valued, and supported.

“Vulnerable children need more than charity—they need sustainable opportunities to thrive.”

He revealed that the CCFs will focus on: “Expanding access to education through scholarships, inclusive programmes, and advocacy for marginalised children.      

“Providing healthcare support for street-connected children and those in underserved communities and strengthening family systems with economic and emotional support to reduce the vulnerabilities that drive children into unsafe environments.”

A cornerstone of the initiative, Keana said is the development of a Nigeria-wide Child Rights Index, designed to improve data visibility and enhance policy development for children.

He also stressed that by shining a spotlight on the challenges faced by vulnerable children, the Index is designed to drive evidence-based policymaking and foster accountability among stakeholders.

The event, he added also unveiled plans for a Five-Day Activism Campaign in June, coinciding with National Children’s Day and the Day of the African Child.

He said the campaign will feature advocacy walks, policy dialogues, and grassroots community engagement to amplify the voices of children and mobilise support for the CCF’s mission.

Other prominent speakers included CEO, Consortium for Street Children, Felix Holman, a renowned advocate for social development, Frank Nweke Jnr., and Senior Education Adviser, UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), Ross Kate.

Together, they underscored the urgent need for innovative approaches to child welfare and called for collective action to support the CCF’s mission.