By: Lois Otse Adams
In commemoration of the 2018 African Child marked every June 16, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, under the leadership of Her Excellency, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan (Mrs.) played a host to African children and stakeholders.
The event was themed: ‘Leave no Child behind for Africa’s Development’. As well, the event was tagged ‘Ministerial press briefing and adolescent participant in policy processes’ held at the Nigerian Airforce (NAF) Conference Centre in the nation’s capital, Abuja June 21, 2018 through June 22, 2018.
Some of the speakers who spoke at the event drew attention to the consciousness of the right of the child and the emergence of great leaders of tomorrow, reaching children potentials, believing in inclusiveness to be able to carry the African child along who are the future of tomorrow, giving attention to children with special needs and others.
In same vein, other stakeholders spoke at the event to encourage the African child.
It could be recalled that in the history, Nigeria adopted the child right act to domesticate the convention on the right of the child. The law that was passed at the federal level still needs the enactment of some state assemblies to make it more effective.
In commending the states that have passed the act bill, several stakeholders have intensified their advocacy for the other states to pass it.
The Nigerian government has struggled to deal with several issues hindering the protection rights of the child living on the streets, those affected by communal conflicts, drug abuse, human trafficking, maltreatment from slave masters, weaknesses of the juvenile justice system amongst others.
In relation to this effect, it is easy to support the protection right of the child than curbing trafficking, modern day slavery of the Nigerian child and rescuing the child from forced labour. These criminal acts such as rape, sexual exploitation and trafficking always push children to conflict with the law.
Research also has revealed that about 6,000 children are in prisons and detention centers across the country, girls marking 10%. These children are been treated like adults and mixed with adults in prisons. Many are convicted and jailed without making contact with social workers or getting the opportunity to be heard.
The former speaker of the Nigerian Children’s Parliament, Rt. Honourable Chinenye Nwaneri spoke on knowing the nation’s identity and to embrace her heritage therefore, she urged both children, the adolescent and young adults to hold onto her values and showcase her identity.
Speaking also at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Ifeoma Anagbogu, told the children to play their role to contribute to the development of the African child. She said the theme of this year draws the attention of the policy makers so that most attention should be given to the African children, especially the excluded and the vulnerable.
She also emphasized on the height of violence in the society affecting children, signs of violence among children, the government attempt to popularize issues concerning children, production of hand books and other tools to change the mindset of the African children, legal way of child adoption to avoid illicit practices, malnutrition, various innovations employed to protect the children, promotion of school enrolment to make every child go to school, establishment of special schools, safety of the child and involvement in policy making, intensified efforts for special needs, doing the right thing as an African child, etc.
She therefore appreciated the sponsors and stakeholders of this year’s event in their efforts to upholding the right of the African child to becoming a better and useful citizen.
