Key dates for children in Nigeria

The calendar at a glance

Dates for UN and UNESCO days are taken from the United Nations list of international days (opens in a new tab); each row links to its official page. “Next date” is calculated from 11 October 2026.

When is World Orphans Day 2026?

World Orphans Day is widely marked on the second Monday of November, which in 2026 is Monday 9 November (and in 2027, Monday 8 November). It is not one of the international days on the United Nations list, so there is no official UN theme; organisations around the world use it to draw attention to children who have lost parental care.

SOVCI marked the day on 10 November 2025, the second Monday of that month. Our founder, citing UNICEF, said there are about 140 million orphaned children worldwide, including 17.5 million in Nigeria, and announced a concert and fundraiser at Lagos State University (PUNCH Healthwise (opens in a new tab)).

If you are planning something for World Orphans Day, our guide How to help orphanage homes in Lagos responsibly explains why family-based care matters and why orphanage visits are not the best way to help.

Children’s Day in Nigeria: 27 May

Nigeria celebrates Children’s Day on 27 May. Schools, governments and NGOs hold events across the country; in 2026 the Federal Ministry of Education was among those that marked the day (NAN, May 2026 (opens in a new tab)).

SOVCI has held its own celebrations for children from orphanage homes and schools at Lagos State University: the “SOVCI May 27th Children’s Day Celebration” in 2023, with talent shows and quiz competitions (BusinessDay, June 2023 (opens in a new tab)), and “Made For More” in 2024, with twelve orphanage homes invited.

Day of the African Child: 16 June

The Day of the African Child is held every year on 16 June in memory of the 1976 student uprising in Soweto, South Africa. The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), an African Union body, chooses a theme each year; for 2026 it focused on universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene for every child in Africa (ACERWC (opens in a new tab)).

International Day of Education: 24 January

The United Nations marks the International Day of Education on 24 January (United Nations (opens in a new tab)). SOVCI used the 2024 edition, themed “Learning for Lasting Peace”, to give school kits to pupils of public schools in Iba LCDA with the Faculty of Education of Lagos State University (PM News (opens in a new tab)). If you would like to do the same, read How to run a school supplies drive.

How to use these dates well

• Plan early. Start four to six weeks ahead, so partners and donors have time to respond.
• Match the day to your work. A school supplies drive fits the International Day of Education; a family-strengthening message fits World Orphans Day or the International Day of Families.
• Protect children’s privacy. Share pictures of venues, volunteers and supplies — not children’s faces.
• Check the official page each year. Themes change every year; dates in this guide were checked on 11 October 2026.