The Beacon Literacy Foundation in Sokoto State has advocated collective and concerted effort to tackle the implications of child abuse in Nigeria.
Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Foundation, Dr Tambari Waziri, made this known at the 3rd Awareness Lecture Series organised by the foundation in Sokoto.
Dr Waziri said that the state of child abuse in Nigeria is characteristically marred with the new evolution that breeds the explosion of child street beggars and child street urchin.
He said; “This, in turn makes the child to be extremely vulnerable to certain socio-economic and socio-cultural molestations, leading to loss of self-value and self-actualisation.
“To combat the implications of child abuse in Nigeria, the central argument suggests pragmatic approach.
“This ultimately guarantees comprehensive protection of any child against any forms of child abuse.”
In a lecture titled, “Child Abuse in the Context of Criminality: Instrument for Human Rights Violation in Nigeria,” Barrister Rashidat Mohammed, appealed for collective engagement in guiding children.
Mohammed said; “We should collectively guide the children in our communities and take such as a mandate that is necessary, not only to protect our own children, but to protect the present and the future.”
“As we are all aware, child abuse is on the increase globally, with our country not exclusive, therefore, parents need to fulfill their responsibility of ensuring proper protection of children,” She stated.
According to her, it was the responsibility of all community to take full ownership of family to ensure proper child development.
Dr Umar Magaji, a Lecturer with the Department of Political Science, Sokoto State University, also called on the government and political office holders to be more committed towards ensuring that the perpetrators of child abuse are punished.
He also stressed that more awareness needed to be encouraged to ensure effective child development in the country.
Dr Magaji commended the foundation for organizing the lecture series to educate family and community to understand their role on child development.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
