Nigeria’s Endangered Children

By Oji Odu

With an estimated 13.2 million children out of school in Nigeria, 69 percent of who are from the Northern region, a figure that is the highest in the world today according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is there hope for Nigeria’s future?

And with the inability of the Nigerian child to access quality education and health services, is the country not under threat of destruction and disintegration?

As Nigeria celebrates Children’s Day today, UNICEF has raised alarm that in spite of many advances in the past years, Nigerian children are still not able to accessing health, educational and other rights. UNICEF’s new Country Representative in Nigeria, Peter Hawkins made this known in a statement.

“While there have been many advances over the last years, children in Nigeria are still not accessing health, nutrition, education and other rights to the extent that they must. Sadly, it is the most disadvantaged children who are suffering the greatest challenge in having their rights fulfilled.”

According to the world body, Nigerian Children’s Day 2019 falls during the 30^th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which is being commemorated this year around the world. As part of the celebrations, the organisation said it is launching a “Passport to Your Rights,” a copy of the CRC in child-friendly language, in pocket format, with the aim that every child in the country has a copy by 2030.

The CRC ‘passport’, UNICEF said, will also be available in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Pidgin languages, helping to ensure access by millions of Nigerians.

Further, Hawkins said that this project started in 1989 when world leaders came together in a moment of unity for the world’s children. They made a promise to every child to protect and fulfil their rights by adopting the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Conventon established childhood as a period that is separate from adulthood – a time in which children should grow, learn, play, develop and flourish.

“We want to see every Nigerian child have that kind of a childhood…On this Nigerian Children’s Day, we must look ahead to the future of childhood in this country, and re-commit to urgent, specific actions to protect the rights of every child – now, and in future generations, he said, adding that child rights can only be realised when governments and everybody is aware of and upholds child rights, and children can claim such rights.

‘For every child, every right’ and will work closely with the government to ensure that all Nigerians are aware of the rights that all children have. This includes in particular children themselves. Working together, we can seize this moment and make it a turning point for every child; I look forward to picking up this challenge, as the new UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria”, he stated.

Does the Nigerian child have rights? If they do, what are they? This is because of the myriad abuses both recorded and not. Child labour which is forced and illegal is on the increase, and seems to be norm.

Nigerian children are forced to drop out of school to help their unemployed parents hawk and make money to help keep their families afloat.

Although the Magazine’s findings reveal that Lagos state is one of the states that offer free education to children from primary to Secondary levels, and free health services to children and the aged,  Deji Akinwale, a nine-year-old  hawker in Lagos told the Magazine: “ Although my education is free, my parents who are petty traders because my father lost his job, told me I have to hawk to help make money to eat food. I live in Ajegunle, off Ikorodu road. This is not a bad thing because almost every family in my area send their children to hawk.”

In a chat with the Magazine, Peter Ameh, a Sociologist said: “ The Nigerian Child is, indeed a threatened specie, a situation that makes the future of the country to look bleak. The educational system and what it churns out make many to ask if there any need for it. Little wonder we have increased child robbers, child terrorists, child ritualists, child suicide et cetera,” he said.

Ameh regrets that with the very poor healthcare system, it is not strange that children do not enjoy good healthcare services. He said that even in the states that claim free healthcare for children, the drugs are not available.

Who will help the endangered Nigerian child? According to Jane Uwa, a Social worker: “ It is not enough to sign child right bill into law, but have political will to execute them. It is pathetic that Nigeria, although signatory to some international child right Acts has refused to implement them when other countries are doing so and consolidating,”
In his address in celebration of the 2019 Children’s Day, the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the concluded 2019 General Election, Atiku Abubakar,  encouraged Nigerian children to never lose hope in their country, whether or not they live here or in the Diaspora.

In a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, he reminded the children that they were the future of Nigeria.

“No matter how tough and trying the situation in the country may appear today, Nigerian children must believe that things can and will get better.

“This conviction will help them see in themselves the solutions to the multiple challenges our country faces.

“It will strengthen them to not turn their backs on their country at a time when she needs them most, no matter how rosy life may appear in other shores.

“From chess champions to acclaimed artists, Nigerian children have been in the international headlines recently for exceptional achievements despite all odds.

“These shining lights are just an example of the potential in you, our children,” he said.

Meanwhile,  wife of Nigeria’s President-elect, Aisha Buhari, in a statement released to mark this year’s International Children’s Day has assured Nigerians of the incoming government’s commitment to the development of children in every geopolitical zone in the country.

She said education is going to be one of the main focuses of the incoming APC government.

“Our children are our future, education of our children is the best way to secure the future of our country.”

Mrs. Buhari also called for the implementation of the Child Rights Act which has been passed by the National Assembly, which is yet to be adopted by all the states of Nigeria.

“Even if it means adapting the Act to suit their specific needs, the Child Rights Act must be adopted in every single state of our country. No child in Nigeria will be left out of my husband’s plan for Nigeria. “Every child in every geopolitical zone of the country will be taken care of by the APC federal government.”