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Reflections
on Children’s Day
By Sun News Publishing
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
May 27 of every year is the official date chosen by Nigerian government
to celebrate Children’s Day. This is in keeping with the United
Nations (UN) General Assembly’s resolution in 1954 that all
countries institute a Universal Children’s Day to be observed
as a day to dwell on issues and activities that promote the welfare
of children globally.
It is also a day set aside to appraise the progress made in respect
of the nation’s children with a view to addressing their problems.
In 1989, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights
of the Child, which covers in its 54 articles all the rights of
children on healthcare, education, freedom from exploitation and
the right to hold opinion, amongst others.
Though Nigeria is a signatory to all these conventions, most of
these lofty goals are more often breached than observed.
Every year, Children’s Day is marked with great pomp and ceremony,
often with less thought on those things that would enhance the promotion
of children’s rights and well-being. At best, the event has
been reduced to a mere ritual of ceremonies where government officials
mouth slogans and intentions that are never fulfilled.
As Nigerian children mark this year’s event today, let us
use the occasion to direct our attention to those practices–
private and official– that militate against the realization
of children’s rights in the country. Nigerian children are
still subjected to physical and mental violence, sexual abuse, neglect
and maltreatment while with parents or guardians.
Apart from child labour, many Nigerian children are victims of human
trafficking. A recent study by the International Labour Organisation
(ILO) showed that Nigeria lost about 4,000 children to traffickers.
Thousands of them were recently labelled as witches in Akwa Ibom
State, and exposed to demeaning and inhuman acts, including premature
death.
Educationally, Nigerian children have a bleak future. Recent statistics
indicate that about 45 percent of school age children are out of
school in the country. Those lucky to be in school are put in shanties
and non-conducive environments that pass as classrooms. Some of
them still go to school without food and in tattered clothing. In
these schools, both the quantity and quality of instruction are
far below expected standard.
Right now, all available indices point to the fact that there is
indeed a bleak future for Nigerian children. At birth, not many
of them are lucky enough to survive the first few months due to
the parlous health care system that engenders high level of infant
mortality. Unfortunately, 25 percent of them die before they can
reach five years of age from avoidable causes. In spite of availability
of preventive measures against child-killer diseases, Nigeria is
still one of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa with the greatest
figure of child deaths.
Even children that survive this level face the problem of malnutrition
and stunted growth. They live in an unfriendly environment with
little hope of attaining their aspirations in life. In most families,
children’s opinions do not count, as they are not tolerated.
The female child suffers most deprivations due to inherent discrimination
in the family in favour of the male child.
One noticeable area the government has not been forthcoming is the
implementation of the Child Rights Act. Though the National Assembly
passed the Act in 2003, only about 18 states out of the 36 in the
federation have passed the Act into law after domesticating it to
suit their peculiar needs and circumstances. Passing the Act is
one thing, implementing the provisions of the Act is another. Non-implementation
of the Act would amount to mortgaging the future of Nigerian children.
Beyond passing the Act, all the tiers of government must take more
than a passing interest in the welfare of our children. As the leaders
of tomorrow, Nigerian children deserve to be offered the best in
terms of education, health, environment and other indices that impinge
on their overall well being. Nigerian children should be well catered
for and their opinions heard and respected on issues that affect
them. The present deplorable state is unacceptable.
It calls for a drastic and fundamental change for the better. That
is the only way the celebration of Children’s Day can be meaningful
in the country.
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