The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen has emphasized the need for an enabling environment to enable children grow into responsible adults,
She said the call was important to rid the country of miscreants that would constitute security challenges .
Tallen who, made the call on Thursday during the 2021 National Children’s Day celebrationon, with the theme, “Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on the total wellbeing of the Nigerian Child: The way Forward” in Abuja., said
concrete step must be taken to promote the survival, protection, development and participation of the Nigerian Child, for the future of the nation.
The Women Affairs Minister said ” We cannot allow evil minded persons continue to inflict and pose grave dangers to our children.
” If we do not provide an enabling environment for children to grow as responsible adults, they will surely come back to haunt us as miscreants,” she said.
Tallen therefore ,called on parents and every well-meaning Nigerian to ensure proper nurturing and upbringing of their children and wards.
The minister also encouraged children to be of good behavior at all times, ensure they take their education serious and obey constituted authorities at home and in schools.
She noted COVID-19 impact on women and children, which had further exposed them to extreme poverty, school drop out, hunger,increase in child mortality and street children and other firms of violence, particularly for rural children.
According to her, the domestication of the Child Rights Act 2003 and VAPP Act 2015 in all the states will promote the well being, welfare and protection of children and their rights.
Deputy Representative in Nigeria, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Rushnan Murtaza, stressed the need to review safeguarding policies and processes for the protection and development of children adding that there was the need to “act in their best interests and deploy innovative solutions, including low-cost technology to fast-track learning and health services for every Nigerian child,”
Also speaking,Dr Zubaida Abubakar, Representative of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reiterated the commitment of the organisation towards promoting the reproductive health rights of women and children.
Adetayo Erinle, Executive Director, Tabitha Cumi Foundation, called on stakeholders to raise their voices and actions towards safe guarding children, providing safe learning environments and communities for them to thrive.
Erinle disclosed that the organisation was working on a project, “Flash Light Actions on Girls Safety (FLAGS) to create safe spaces for 750 marginalised girls in FCT, Niger and Nassarwa states to prevent and respond to GBV.
The Speaker of the FCT Children’s parliament, Miss Mitchell Chukuwma urged leaders to stop paying lip service to the passage and implementation of the Child rights Act at all levels and proactively ensure its full domestication.
The event also had a presentation of a painting on hope for survivors of gender-based violence to President Mohammadu Buhari by 11-year-old, Master Anyan Okeke, a child with autism , cultural dances by school children and awards.
Also, cultural dance performance by school children and distribution of books, as well as presentation of awards in various academic competition were conferred on the w
