Securing a better future for Nigerian children.

[FMINigeria]

 

By Mrs. Ememmaria Offiong

Nigeria has just celebrated this year's children's day with the theme, our children, our future, our collective responsibility.  The United Nations convention on the rights of children defines a child to be "A human being below the age of 18years old."  Also, the royal psalmist in the sacred scriptures describes children as a gift from the Lord..... a real blessing".... and arrows in the hands of the archer."

First Lady Dame Dr. Patience Goodluck Jonathan Presenting Gifts to some Children Children's day has come and gone with Nigerian children having their own share of fun with all the thrills that go with parades, calisthenics, march pasts, displays, dramas, essay competitions, quizzes, debates and other presentations.  However, beyond these pomp and pageantry, there is a need to soberly reflect on the crucial issues affecting children in a world that is turning increasingly hostile to the welfare of children.

This day was first proclaimed by the world conference for the well-being of children in 1925 and not until 1954 was it made a global celebration to protect children working long hours in dangerous circumstances as well as allow children access to education and other basic rights such as good health, environment of love, nurture, peace and happiness.

Whereas all these are enjoyed by a minimal number of children, the greater majority wallow in squalid conditions.  Lack of exposure to good nutrition, health practices and other modern amenities have led to malnutrition, stunted growth, poor health and consequently, criminal tendencies are on the increase.  In fact, mortality rate is on the increase as one in every five children die before their 5th birthday, according to WHO statistics.

According to a recent data released by the United Nations educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), an estimated 61 million children are being denied their right to education; out of this figure, 10.5 million are from Nigeria with over 42% of these being primary school age.  Despite the implementation of the universal basic education, about 42% of Nigerian children aged 6-11 years, do not attend any school, with the northern region recording the lowest school attendance, particularly girls.

What will the future be like?  Education is the single most important factor that contributes most to the development of a nation.  A nation without educated people is floundering on the verge of collapse.  It is with the aid of education that developed nations have reached the enviable height of civilization they are currently enjoying. This shows that education is a key, an equalizer and a stabilizing ingredient for development in any society.  If focus is not given to it, we will not have a good legacy to transmit to our children.  On the other hand, if we position these "arrows" very well, Nigeria will catapult from the community of retrogressive nations to a major power broker in the world's civilization.

It is not all bad news as the Federal Government has also put in place, evolutionary structures that will metamorphose into transformative system of education. The "Bring-back the book" initiative of President Goodluck Jonathan is an example.  Apart from UBE, Government has also embarked upon building 13 Model Girls schools to encourage girl-child education, due to the education bill by the House of Representatives will also go a long way to assist parents and guardians to boost their quality education.

This is why other Nigerians must lend their voices to encourage indoctrination of children on the ideals of national development. "Teaching children peace could help to unite Nigeria". So, says Mr. Yewande Iwuoha, GM, Ray Power FM Lagos.  As part of activities organized to mark this year's Children's Day celebration, she also stated: "Violence is everywhere and we have resolved that this is not the best way to raise our children.  We need to tell them about peace and drum it into them every day because this is the only way we can unite Nigeria."

The flashes of brilliance exhibited by Nigerian children both within and beyond the shores of this country show that the future of Nigeria is very bright if only the Government will do more in the areas of education, health, agriculture, ICT, science and technology, industrialization, skills acquisition, to mention a few.  This will curb brain drain, reduce unemployment and poverty; empower parents to train the young ones better.  This is why Nigerians do better when they are exposed to the right environment and given a level playing field abroad.  There is no doubt that they always excel.

Similarly, the next generation report and other statistical data states: "Nigeria's future is at a time of rapid economic, demographic and social change." What this means is that the country stands on the threshold of what could be the greatest transformation ever in its history.

This is good news and our children should not be left behind, but actually empowered and keyed into this transformation era.

Every segment of the society has a role to play in ensuring that the rights of all children are protected. Government at the centre alone cannot provide comprehensive care for every vulnerable child, hence the need for collaboration of all stakeholders such as; NGOs, Community based Organizations, Government  at all levels, Corporate Bodies as well as everyone in society should come together to form strategic partnership and linkages in place of declining traditional safety nets.

Children should be taught and encouraged to read and learn valuable skills early in life as the adage, "catch them young presupposes".

Mentorship programmes, guidance and counseling sessions with icons in society must be co-opted. All hands must be on deck.

Children's rights laws, enshrined in the constitution and the UN stipulates freedom education as one of the tenets.   "Every child has a right to their childhood – a hopeful existence free of exploitation, violence, neglect and extreme poverty". Children need education, health services, consistent support system, as well as an environment of love, hope and encouragement in order to experience childhood to the fullest and to develop into healthy, capable adults.

This is why the apex parliament, in one of its intervention strategies has called upon the House' Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development and Human Rights to investigate an alleged engagement of school-age children in the northern part of the country in menial jobs.  A motion on the urgent need to investigate the use of child labour in some quarries in Kaduna and Nassarawa states has been sponsored by Honourable Hassan Saleh who states that lack of enforcement of Child Rights Act and other policies to protect children has made these vices to persist in the country.

One may wish to state that the employment of children of this age is a deprivation of their ability to attend regular schools and could subsequently cause irreparable mental, physical, social and moral damage to them.  This is not good for the overall welfare of the nation.

First Lady Dame Dr. Patience Goodluck Jonathan Presenting Gifts to some Children The family being the nucleus of society is the first place the children are exposed to and thus, the image they mirror from birth, if they are brought up under positive surroundings, they will focus on their talents and develop true greatness.  On the other hand, if all they witness are domestic assault, negative news of terrorism, abduction, kidnappings, robbery and other bizarre, dastardly acts of injustice against fellow citizens, the consequences can only be imagined.

Also not to be left out is the dangers of leaving children to use the social media unsupervised. Time was, when children were not thought of as sole properties of parents alone but cherished jewels to be polished and preserved.  But, all these traditional ideas are far becoming extinct or at best dysfunctional.

Nigerian children are highly talented, versatile and have the potentials to be world-beaters in every discipline of study, parents, teachers, Government at all tiers as well as relevant stakeholders should work together to close societal gaps which are capable of harming children.  Environment conducive for their thriving and wholesome development must also be provided.  This is the only way the country can sustain its hope of a brighter future.

Government must be firm and unrelenting in the fight against poverty, violence, intolerance, corruption and other socio-cultural, political and economic factors following a trickle-down theory effect capable of derailing the future of children.

The neglect of any child or class of children, today can spell a terrible future for the whole nation.

Children should be exposed early to various tasks that will enable them to be well-rounded individuals capable of developing and delivering on their potentials.  This will also enable the specifically gifted ones to be spotted early.  The Montessori educational as well as traditional and modern pedagogy should be adopted and harmonized to arrive at a balanced approach to child care, training and development.

If children are justly called the future of the nation, the right time to start preparing that future is now.  The world is at a time when more than ever, we need to aggressively look for the good within us, gather all together and channel it to a unifying direction for us to be stronger to challenge and overcome the unfortunate evils of our generation.

Mrs. Ememmaria Offiong a Senior Information Officer works at the National Press Centre, Abuja.

Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria