By Hassan Zaggi
The United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has charged the federal government to give Nigerian children the platform and encouragement to aspire to do great things considering that they are resilient and talented.
The UNICEF’s Country Director, Peter Hawkins, gave the charge in a statement to commemorate the year 2021 Children’s Day, on Thursday.
“Nigerian children are resilient, talented and aspire to do great things. And it is our responsibility to give them the platform and encouragement to do just that,” he reiterated.
UNICEF noted that this year’s Children’s Day, came at a challenging moment for child rights in the country and the world, with the COVID-19 pandemic threatening gains made for children’s development.
The UNICEF Country Representative said: “It has been a challenging year for us all with the COVID-19 pandemic – not least of all, Nigeria’s children – and I want to commend efforts at all levels of Nigerian government and society to protect education, health, and protection services in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children.
“As we rightfully celebrate Nigerian children today, let us also remember that the COVID-19 crisis has been a child rights crisis – in Nigeria and around the world.
“Poverty is rising, inequality is growing, and the pandemic has often disrupted the essential services that secure the health, education and protection of children and young people.
“The longer the pandemic goes on, the more intense the impact on women and children.”
While saying that the pandemic is threatening decades of progress we have made for children, Hawkins, said: “Violence is perpetrated against 1 in 4 Nigerian children – and 1 in 3 Nigerian girls are sexually abused. This has only increased during the pandemic.
“Today of all days, we must commit to reinforce the protection mechanisms for all children.
“But we have learned from this pandemic too. One thing we have learned is that education takes place not only in schools – children can and should learn both in and out of school.
“A learning continuum is critical, so that all children continue to get an education irrespective of their situation, location, or the pandemic.
“We know that protecting children and investing in women and families is not only the right thing to do – it has proven to be a sound economic choice and a cost-effective tool for national development.”
He, however, charged the government and people of Nigeria to act in their best interests and deploy innovative solutions to fast-track learning and health services to build back better, for every Nigerian child.”
