Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Day of African Child: FG assures quality children education

The Nigerian Government has reiterated its commitment to the provision of child-friendly, qualitative, free and compulsory education for the Nigerian child.


The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Zainab Maina stated this on Monday June 17, 2014 at the commemoration of the 2014 Day of the African Child in Abuja, organized by the ministry in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the ‘Save our Children International’ on the theme: “A Child Friendly, Quality, Free and Compulsory Education For all Children in Africa.”

According to Maina who was represented at the occasion by Helen Uji – Deputy Director in the ministry, the theme of this year’s celebration is apt, following the insecurity and acts of violence facing African and especially Nigerian children in a bid to access quality education. She said that the abduction of school girls from Chibok in Borno State has drawn the government backwards in its mission for greater heights for children in the country. She also expressed regret that the girls were abducted when efforts at promoting the girl-child education and gender balance in the country have begun to yield results.


The Minister further assured that despite the challenges, the Nigerian Government is committed to the implementation of strategic programmes geared towards achieving a child-friendly and quality education for children, especially the girl-child. She noted that all levels of Government are imploring security measures to ensure adequate protection of children in their schools, in order to forestall future occurrences of the Chibok incidence.


“World leaders at the just concluded World Economic Forum for Africa pledged to support the safe school project in Nigeria to compliment Government’s efforts in providing the desired security for schools, especially girls’ colleges. The Federal Government is also in the process of establishing a child helpline to protect children from all forms of abuse and exploitation. This project is to enable children in any kind of crises to call a toll free number to receive help while in distress,” she added.


The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Habiba Lawal in her welcome address said that the decision to commemorate the Day of the African Child on the 16th of June annually was taken in Nigeria at the 54th Session of the Council of Ministers of the African Union held in 1996. According to her, the Day of the African Child is marked every year on June 16 by Member – States of the African Union (AU) to constantly call to memory, the brutality and massacre of children by the then Apartheid South African authorities in Soweto in 1976.


“It is disheartening to remind us that these unarmed school children lost their lives for protesting the implementation of Apartheid-inspired education. This year’s celebration was to draw the attention of African governments, policy makers and stakeholders to their responsibilities towards children’s right to education,” the Permanent Secretary stated.



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Day of African Child: FG assures quality children education

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