Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has called on State Governors and stakeholders to work towards the domestication and effective implementation of the Child Rights Act as the nation marks the 2022 Children’s Day celebration
The President who was represented by the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Muhammad Bello made the call on Friday, May 27, 2022 during the celebration in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
He also urged other stakeholders to join hands in rescuing Nigerian Children who are out of school and roaming the streets
President Buhari said it was worrisome to have some children who are still vulnerable in the country.
He has also urged Ministries, Departments Agencies and even teachers to make more commitment towards the protection of Children while resisting any practices that have been proven to be harmful to them.
“I call on all States to domesticate and effectively implement the Child Rights Act, 2003 and the VAPP Act, 2015; remove our children from the streets and enrol them in schools (both formal and informal); end harmful social norms and practices against children; put a framework in place to ensure children access justice both as victims and as offenders and improve birth registration which is critical for national planning and governance functions as well as serves as a foundation for achieving progress in child protection and the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals
“I urge all Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, international partners, religious leaders, traditional leaders, the media, the private sectors, the teachers and most importantly parents to collectively renew our commitment to protect our children from all forms of violence in our homes, in schools, parks, child care centres, worship places and everywhere our children may be. We must be proactive and leverage the legal frameworks and policy instruments that are designed for the safety of children. We must adopt and implement laws and policies that prevent violence against our children, create a safe and protective environment for children, change our perceptions of violence and redouble our efforts to hold perpetrators accountable and provide justice to victims of violence.”
The President equally implored foreign partners to support the government’s policies and programmes that promote children’s welfare and development.
He added,” I invite Donor Agencies and Implementing Partners across the Country to support Government’s efforts to strengthen capacities of key stakeholders including psychosocial support services for children, social welfare and child-friendly justice services that prevent and respond to violence against children, strengthen parental and caregiver support approaches, support the development, coordination and implementation of inter-sectoral intervention programmes such as the national multi-sectoral plan of Action on Nutrition.“
The Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, said the government was giving serious attention to issues that affect women and children.
Tallen who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, Idris Mohammed, also urged all stakeholders to fight vigorously against all forms of injustice that affect women and children.
Kwara State
In the same vein, the Micheal Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) in Ilorin, Kwara state also called for comprehensive care and protection of Nigerian children as enshrined in the 1999 constitution and Child Rights Act.
Speaking on the occasion of this year’s Children’s Day with students of Olulade primary school in Ilorin, the Director-General of MINILS, Issa Aremu quoted the saying of the late Nelson Mandela; “The true character of a society is revealed on how it treats its children.”
He urged parents, mothers and fathers, and governments to urgently protect children against what he called “The new predators of bandits, kidnappers, poverty and ignorance.”
According to the Director-General, the key to the future of children is compulsory mass quality education and the promotion of work ethics among kids.
The Headmaster of Olulade Primary School, Mr Bakare, disclosed that it has been a long time ago the school celebrated the annual Children’s Day.
He appreciated the DG and the management and staff of MINILS for marking the day with the children.
Kano State
Likewise the Kano state first lady, Hafsat Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has said that her office and other relevant stakeholders would expedite action on the speedy passage, assent and implementation of the child protection bill submitted to the state house of assembly.
According to her, the government will leave no stone unturned to ensure the protection, progress and well-being of children in the state.
Professor Hafsat made the disclosure during an event to commemorate, the 2022 Children’s Day, held at the government house in Kano.
The first lady maintained that children are precious and fundamental to the development of any nation adding that there was an urgent need to be given priority and protection against any form of abuse.
“As leaders of tomorrow, they ought to be given priority in terms of protection against abuse as well as all other human support in terms of their welfare and education.“
She charged parents and guardians especially mothers, to be more vigilant as the society is faced with social ills that could harm children.
The Kano State Commissioner For Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Zahra’u Muhammad Umar, explained that the state government would not relent in its efforts to improve the lives of its citizens, especially children.
She disclosed that the state had mapped out policies and programs, aimed at uplifting the standard of living among children, by training enumerators on how to evacuate and enrol street children in schools and alternative care for orphanages, among others
Dr Zahra’u described this year’s theme; “Strengthening supportive systems for the protection of the Nigerian child: A wake-up call,“ as apt due to problems bedevilling the world at large.
“All hands must be on deck to ensure that the targeted goals are achieved as the state is doing everything possible to improve the lives of children”
The event had a large turnout of students and was marked by cultural dances, speeches, presentations of learning materials to students and children with special needs across the 44 local government areas of the state.
Gombe State
Meanwhile, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has vowed to provide adequate care and opportunities for children
In a statement to mark the day in Gombe, Governor Yahaya reiterated his administration’s commitment to continually prioritize the well-being of children
He said the theme of this year’s celebration, “Strengthening Supporting Systems for the Protection of the Nigerian Child: A Wake-Up Call,” emphasized his administration’s commitment to provide adequate care and opportunities for children to realize their full potentials.
He said his government would continue to strengthen measures to revamp the education sector in the state, by ensuring those out-of-school children and those of school age, especially girls, enjoyed basic and sound education, considering their place and importance in the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.
Governor Yahaya, therefore, called on parents, community leaders, teachers, and all involved in children’s upbringing to take mentoring seriously and provide children with a good leadership example.
He described children as the hope and essence of the state and the nation while vowing to provide opportunities for them to contribute to societal development.
The Gombe State Governor expressed his administration’s resolve to tackle incidents of child abuse in the state.
In 1964, May 27 was set aside as an annual holiday for children in Nigeria.
The day draws attention and brings awareness on problems faced by children
Although an international holiday, the selected date of celebration is varied from country to country.
PIAK
