NANFeatures/Vol.12/No.73/2018 (May 25)
Creating safe spaces for children as collective responsibility
A News Analysis by Olasunkanmi Onifade, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Every May 27 is important to family units in Nigeria as the country has set the day to re-awaken the importance of children and emphasise the need to uphold the child’s rights to scheme of things in life, including their safety.
Observance of the day is also to raise public awareness of problems that children face, how to solve them and give them a sense of belonging.
Perspective observers of the previous activities of the day note that the theme of the 2018 edition of the day: “Creating safe spaces for children, our collective responsibility’’, is apt, especially as the country is faced with some security challenges.
They call on the media to highlight the plight of children in the society, their safety and efforts government and non government agencies, to preserve the rights of children in that regard.
President Muhammadu Buhari in an edition of Children’s Day
Observing that children are the greatest resources that any nation has, the future of family units, the society and the nation, President Muhammadu Buhari promised in his speech during the 2017 Children’s Day that the government would be committed to end all forms of violence against children.
Further to that, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development held a panel discussion and renewal of leadership of the 6th National Children’s Parliament preparatory to the day.
These initiatives notwithstanding, the Nigerian children have demanded that more attention should be channeled to issues affecting them during after the observance of the day.
They call on government, community, parents and all stakeholders to ensure more protection of children in the country, especially those residing in some parts of the country where there is security challenge.
Miss Mary Emmanuel, member representing Kaduna Federal Constituency in the National Children’s Parliament, observed that no place was safe for children from the home, school and religious houses.
She called on government to take speedy action to take the safety of children seriously, pointing it out that in Kaduna State many children were not enroled in schools.
She also blamed parents and guardians for their preference to giving out teenage girls’ early marriage or hawking.
“It is painful that in the northern part of the country such as Kaduna State for where education in primary and secondary school is now free, children are still everywhere hawking during school hours.
“Parents also still give their children out early in marriage to older men and the result of this is chronic health issues such as Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF).
“Government and other stakeholders should also help in promoting laws that protects children,’’ she said.
Another child parliamentarian from Kano State, Miss Maisara Abba, blamed the challenges children faced on religion, observing that religious disparity was growing daily and creating enmity among Nigerians.
“It is sad that when a Christian child is going through any situation the Muslims may not show concern, just like Christians may not also show concern when a Muslim is in an unfortunate situation; this attitude must change if we must grow as a nation,’’ she observed.
Similarly, Mr Ezeaku Chidubem, a member representing Anambra in the National Children’s Parliament, called on government to overhaul the justice system and law enforcement agencies, making them accessible to children.
Apparently reacting to this, Mrs Ifeoma Anagbogu, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, said that parents remained the major custodians of their children that would prepare them to take public responsibility.
She urged the children to be conscious of democratic process to prepare them as better legislators in their parliament and contribute to strengthen democratic practices in future.
“There is no gainsaying that children are the future of the nation, without them, the nation’s hope of building a youthful and productive workforce greatly diminishes and the basic family structure appears imbalanced.
“Everyone who is an adult today had to pass through the childhood phase; the stage is unique because it is marked with moral instructions, home training and fundamental education where child’s learning ability develops.
“If guided in the right path, children can perform marvelously; and if not, they can evolve into individuals that are capable of terrorising the nation,’’ she cautioned.
In the same vein, preparatory Children’s Day, the Senate has called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts at releasing Miss Leah Sharibu, the only Dapchi schoolgirl who has yet to be released by Boko Haram insurgents.
It also urged the government to speed up effort at freeing the remaining Chibok schoolgirls still in the custody of the insurgents.
The call was sequel to a motion by Chairman, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Sen. Binta Masi Garba (APC, Adamawa North) entitled: “2018 Children’s Day Celebration.’’
However, Mr Kolawole Olatosimi, the National Coordinator, Child and Youth Protection Foundation, observed that implementing the Child Rights Act and child rights law in states would provide a good platform for the safety of children.
He observed that the Child Right Act had yet to be domesticated in some parts of the country, calling on government to properly take care of children that had been victims of all forms of child abuses.
“Government should invest more in the education sector, especially the welfare of teachers, infrastructures, students’ wellbeing and safety,’’ he said.
Concerned citizens, nonetheless, insist that as the country observes Children’s Day, parents should sincerely evaluate their parent-child relationships.
They emphasise that a child’s wellbeing and safety ought to be a collective responsibility of all, including religious bodies, governments, schools, parents, guardians and relevant non-governmental organisations.(NANFeatures)
**If used, please credit the writer as well as News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)