UNICEF, NGE DAME Symposium: Unified child's law key to protecting Nigeria's children ------ Braimah
A member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and Publisher of NaijaTimes, Mr Ehi Braimah, has called for a unified child rights law in the country to give equal rights to all Nigerian children.
Braimah made the call on Tuesday in Ikeja at a symposium with the theme: ‘Equipping the Nigerian Child for the Future: How Prepared Are We?’
The symposium was organised by UNICEF, in collaboration with the NGE and the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) in Ikeja.
Braimah who was a panelist at the symposium, said that it was not proper that some states of the federation enacted child rights laws with different provisions.
According to him, some states named their child rights laws as Child Protection Law while others called theirs Child Rights Law.
He noted that under Child Protection Law, minimum age of marriage was 14 years while age of maturity was given as 12 years.
Braimah said that such provisions promoted child marriage and could hinder education of the girl-child.
He also noted that the Child Rights Law in other states provided that the minimum marriage age would be 18 years in line with Child Rights Act of the Federal Government.
The publisher said that education was a major empowerment tool and should be easily accessed by all Nigerian children.
He also urged governments to address gaps in children’s education, healthcare and protection as a strategy to empower Nigerian children for a better future.
In her address, the UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative Ms Wafa Saeed, said that Nigeria had made notable progress in the last two decades on children’s welfare.
Saeed said that, with intensified efforts, unvaccinated, malnourished and struggling learners and other Nigerian children could gain access to essential services and protection.
“Nigeria has made progress but at the current pace, it will take too long to reach acceptable results.
“Too many children are still being left behind, hence, there is need for full implementation of the Safe School Declaration.
Earlier, the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr Eze Anaba, regretted that insecurity had led to school disruptions and closures, adding that weak social systems were deepening children’s vulnerability.
According to him, recent attacks on schools and abductions across states show that children have become primary victims of violence.
Anaba called on journalists to prioritise data-driven reporting as a strategy to seek policies to address children’s issues.
“We must amplify the voices of the voiceless and embrace solutions and investigative journalism,” he added.
The Consul-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Lagos, Mr Michel Deelen, said education remained the foundation of any society’s development and should be given the desired attention.
He said that some Nigerian schools still lacked basic facilities, urging adequate attention on children’s general welfare.
The Chairman of DAME, Mr Lanre Idowu, said the Nigerian child was still vulnerable in spite of reforms by governments and support by partners.
Idowu urged journalists to adopt development-oriented reporting to provide context and encourage action.
Ms Ronak Nkan, UNICEF Nigeria Deputy Country Representative and a panelist at the symposium, said there were disparities in the needs of children across states, adding that UNICEF allocated resources for support based on evidence of such needs.
” Almost 90 per cent of Lagos households have access to safe water compared to only three per cent in Kebbi.
“None of us chose where he was born, and no child should suffer because of geography. Every Nigerian child deserves equal opportunity,” she said.
A representative of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Mariam Shaibu, also a panelist, outlined ongoing government interventions targeting to reduce out-of-school syndrome and improve children’s welfare.
According to Shaibu, the interventions include Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, and policies to reduce school absenteeism among girls.
Mr Henshaw Ogubuike, one of the panelists and Director of Public Communication, National Orientation Agency, said the Federal Government had intensified nationwide sensitisation campaigns on child safety.
He appealed to journalists to assist in publicising the campaigns and other efforts of the government to improve child protection and welfare.
Mrs Ijeoma Popoola, a Deputy Editor-in-Chief at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and a panelist at the symposium, appealed to parents and guardians to create time to guide their children and shape their characters as strategies to empower them for the future.
Popoola said that poor parenting had pushed some children into vices including gambling and cultism, which could tamper with their future.
A UNICEF youth advocate, Master Tinafi Akau, urged adoption of technological solutions such as AI-driven early-warning systems to protect schools against attacks.
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