May 27th every year is dedicated to celebrate the children. To have a critical look at their growth, development, mental wellbeing as well as policies that helped to achieve the goals of their upkeep. The sustainable development goals (SDG), objective 1-16 clearly outline the necessities of us as individuals, and collectively as communities and the nation at large to uphold the true right of the child.
Faced with diverse socio-economic and psychologically inclined issues, the life of the Nigerian child is right now in grave danger and immediate extinction if no quick action is taken. With 34 out of the 36 states of the federation, that have domesticated the child right act, lots more needs to be done to impact the life of the ordinary Nigerian child. It is needful to note that even if things are fallen apart and the centre seems not to hold, necessity has become prime for everyone to join in advocating for some of the profound needs of the Nigerian child.
The right of every child as entrenched in the SDG and emphasized in the Nigerian constitution has to be reechoed for sound moral reawaken to every one of us. Of all the objectives of the SDG, for us as organization and the people saddled with developing young minds and creating a new para-dine shift, the Nigerian child like every other child all over the world deserve:
Right to Life; the life of every creation is in its blood and breath, but why is the life of the ordinary Nigerian child different? Why does it look like a paradox for the Nigerian child to enjoy life even a bit. Every where around us today are crisis driven scene, from bandits to terror, communal clashes, organ harvesting, unnecessary road accidents, neighborhood fracas, cult clashes and worst still family torsile. In all these cases, the life of the child is always in danger either from injuries or death.
Today the child life in Nigeria is meaningless especially during crisis, examples from the North East in Nigeria with years of terrorism and North West stories of illegal mining, as well as recent flooding from North Central state like Kogi these all portray gory situations of the neglect of the Nigerian child. A quick answer to this malady is needed now, there should be no need for us to keep looking away.
Right to Learn; Learning is a process in every life journey, learning is synonymous to education every life, so the education of every child depends on the learning approach adopted for his/her development. When you put on scale today, the number of policies the Nigerian government has rolled out in the last three decades, especially with support from international donor agencies, to increase reading and learning ability for the Nigerian child, weigh it with its resultant impact, you will be heart broken of the progress of educational development in Nigeria.
It is clear that daily the more policies we have in Nigeria, the higher the deviation from true development. There is an increase in deviation of pen and mind revolution but a sharp rise also in jungle and gun resistance. So much effort made by federal, state and local government, as well as donor agencies/international NGOs, but the true impact of the result leave much to desire. The question remains what are the recurrent issues stagnating reading ability for children in Nigeria?
Right to Food; According to UN Nutrition Committee on World Food security, people at all time must have physical, social and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food. It is a non-negotiable fact the adequate food supply with sufficient dietary needs for children is very key.
Nigeria ranked 109th position out of 125th countries on Global hunger Index. At a time when inflation, i.e food inflation is on exponential rise and effect of bandits and terrorist has kept the farming populace out of the filed, the incidence of malnutrition and reduced food intake for children is at a high risk.
UNICEF reported in 2023 “2,400 children die daily in Nigeria and also no fewer than 801,600 children died between January 1st and November 30th 2023”. Therefore, malnutrition is effortlessly becoming a silent killer of children under 5 years there are many other diseases. When the farmland is no longer accessible and the environment become more toxic due to unguided mining activities in Northern region of Nigeria, as well as oil spillages in the southern part of the country, the lives of children under 5 is easily cut short.
Stakeholders within the private sector can rise to arrest the continued wreckage of severe acute malnutrition. The role of the private sector is very important now, also communities must rise and roll out a new approach to step up their food production system.
Nigeria has always lean on communal agricultural efforts to stabilize her food supply. Government only needs to support rural farmers with basic amenities, proper processing mechanisms and must importantly adequately provide security to stop bandits’ attacks and terrorist invasion of farming communities.
Proper storage facilities and access roads will keep food supply at its best increase to the reach of all. Having in mind that a well feed will always be a healthy child and a healthy child is more fortified for proper learning and assimilation.
Right to Self-expression; Objective 16 of SGD stands for peace, justice and strong institutions. This means there has to be public access to information and also to protect freedom of citizens in accordance to national legislation.
The question is, does Nigeria a have national legislature today? If yes, how the legislatures protect her citizens to express themselves freely. The constitution of the children parliament is a way of government teaching children how to take ownership of their fundamental regulatory system, and to understand the place of the law in matters affecting their growth and development. Beyond this level of thought is time government begin to accommodate children, especially adolescent in policy discuss that affects their lives and welfare.
Making laws for young people without their input is of great risk that tends to create a template of rebellion. As the world evolve and dialogues are ongoing around GBV, gender inclusive education, entrepreneurship, security etc. one of the best ways to have a holistic and workable policy decision is to also hear from among the young people how they think can be lead and guided within the framework of national laws. A promising future begins with a deliberate program of direction with a distinction of action to produce refined individuals.
Nigeria is great and our future generation will greatly evolve dynamic productive goals if given then best attention. We must give kudos to international development partners like UNIEF, USAID, Plan International, GIZ, European Union etc for many years of institutional support and strategic development. Helping to push beyond their program limit must times in other to reach develop and strengthen the neglected Nigerian children. Many communities have been impacted states have been strengthen Nigeria as a nation at large is experiencing transformation, local NGOs and CBOs has also benefited and reawaken with so much staff empowered.
As we celebrate this year’s children day, it is worthy to note that every child deserves the right to existence and proper care with true fundamental principles that can make positive difference in their lives. Duet 6:7 says You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk to them when they sit in your home when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when your rise up”. Our resolve in Young and Useful Generation Initiative is always to rise a productive generation by upholding the right of every child in every way possible.
BE SURE TO SECURE EVERY CHILD’S RIGHT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. HAPPY INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY.
Edayi Edison is the Executive Director, Young and Useful Generation Initiative and can be reach via ednie35@gmail.com
