Following the commemoration of the Universal Day of the Child, the federal government of Nigeria and the United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF) made it known that in the area and aspect of child protection, Nigeria has impressively made progress using the implementation and domestication of the Child Rights Act (CRA). Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, the Minister of Women Affairs in Nigeria, stated that in the country, the rights of children in all sectors have been successfully supported by the government continually.
Hence, the priority of children’s right in the country has helped them to have gainful access to protection, education, and necessary amenities that protect them from cruelty and violence. The minister made this statement at a symposium and interactive session with school children from various schools at Government Science Technical School. She cited a case, through her reference, of a young girl — an eight year-old — who was sexually defiled and neglected by her step-father and mother, but were later charged in court by the ministry.
Children should understand the renewed hope agenda.
Barrister Kennedy-Ohanenye stated that a girl child should not be molested in any form and should not suffer any harm. She added that all hands must be on deck, especially the government’s, to ensure that there is maximum participation in order to support and secure the safety of children. This also includes the engagement of other stakeholders and children. She explained that it is the responsibility of all children to understand the renewed hope agenda of the administration of the new Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Also, she added that the Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda emphasizes that the rights of the citizens can never the compromised nor tampered with by any factor. Chikodi Onyemerela, the UNICEF Director of Programs, in her speech, highlighted the rights of children in Nigeria: rights to protect from emotional abuse, right to formal education, rights to protection, developmental rights and right to quality medical services, education in the country; and these rights must never be trampled upon and compromised by any factor.
All children should be grown responsibly to become responsible adults.
She restated the rights, stressing that it is compulsory for all children to be grown responsibly, in order for them to be responsible adults. For contribution to the country’s growth, children need to be grown to be good citizens, represent the country in the later future and also produce children, because all children are equally important. She highlighted the objectives of the initiative as an emphasis on the message that the recognition of children in governance must be well-placed in Nigeria, especially in the aspects of resources in the country.
Similar to previous statements, Andrew Madugu, the Director Child of the federal ministry of women affairs, while addressing the significance of children safety, urged children to particularly concentrate on their academics, show respect to their elders in school and communities, show gratitude and remain focus in their studies. Friday Onyekachukwu, one of the students from the department of Radio, Television and Electrical work, expressed his gratitude towards the gesture of the minister in coming to spend some time with them in their school.
UNICEF reaches out to less privileged children across the globe.
Onyekachukwu implored the government to continually render their support duly in helping children that lack access to basic amenities and those that are orphaned, including ones that do not have access to quality and modern education. There were activities at the event, which include giving out of educational materials and distribution of school bags to the children. Also, UNICEF reaches out to less privileged children across the globe to decrease the mortality of children. Also, children in the greatest danger are helped academically with quality education, and during the emergency, families and children are assisted.
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