A not-for-profit organization group, 1001+Voices Initiative for Peoples’ Empowerment, joins millions of well-wishers to salute our children on this auspicious occasion, which was celebrated last week, saying “We are mindful of the challenges and difficult environment in which children grow up in Nigeria. According to the United Nations Children and Educational Fund (UNICEF), over 65% of children in developing and undeveloped countries around the world lack access to quality education, healthcare, shelter, and food. They are innocent victims of wars, malnutrition, and poor mental development. Infant mortality in these countries is very high.”
The group in a state signed by its Executive Secretary, Uwem-obong Ankak, said “May 27 every year is dedicated to children all over the world. It is a date set aside by the United Nations to celebrate children, acknowledge the challenges facing them and develop programs and projects to improve their welfare; give them access to education and healthcare as well as galvanize governments around the world to domesticate these programs for the benefits of children across the globe.”
“This unfortunate situation has become worse in the last couple of years with increase in political instability, wars, and food insecurity around the world. The situation is further exacerbated by the global Covid-19 pandemic which ravaged the world in 2020.The situation is not different in Nigeria. The future of Children in Nigeria is bleak.”
“More than 30% of Nigerian children are out of school due largely to issues of insurgency, banditry, militancy, widespread kidnapping, and general state of insecurity across many parts of Nigeria. These and many more obnoxious occurrences such as child labour, inadequate learning environment and poor education polices, biting economic situation and the concomitant effect on the income of parents and guardians, add up to make the situation of the Nigerian child precarious. “
“These scourges have depleted the population of educated and healthy children in Nigeria and there are fears that we may witness the phenomenal increase in other social vices such as drug abuse and violence. Insurgency groups around the country have also found children as willing tools for their nefarious activities.”
“In the words of Obong Ide Owodiong-Idemeko, the Coordinator of 1001+Voices Initiative for People Empowerment, “the situation is dire and gloomy and governments at all levels must be innovative and up their game in order to stem the threat of a depleting population of educated healthy and rational children in our society.”In Akwa Ibom State, and indeed other states of the federation, government must focus on providing quality education by building modern study environments, increase the use of technology in educational service delivery, increase access to healthcare, provide food security for the teeming population and ensure the economic wellbeing of parents is enhanced.”
“It is pathetic that the euphoria that used to follow Children’s Day celebration in the country has waned considerably over the years. There are no longer colorful march passes and salutes. The pride and optimism of the day has become gloomy. Our children have seemingly lost interest in their country. We sincerely wish that the bleak future our children are experiencing is addressed by the relevant authorities to stem the tide. All that needs to be done is for our governments to think out of the box to bring forth programs that will pull our children out of this state of uncertainty and despondency.”
