Our desire, by Nigerian children

NIGERIAN kids yesterday used the opportunity of the 2008 International Children's Day to present their plight and wishes to the country's leaders.

They were indeed not carried away by the fun and special events some state governments organized to mark the day.

In Rivers State, the children's demand was an end to their frequent kidnapping by gunmen.

Others, who gathered in Lagos, demanded quality education, gainful jobs for their parents and protection of their rights.

Also in Cross River State, they protested against child labor, trafficking and other social vices.

At a debate organized by the Center for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) to mark the day in Lagos, a student, Obeleagu Somto, urged the government to provide good learning environment for them.

He also asked the governments and parents to promote good values by living by examples.

"As children, we copy what we see older people do. These corrupt practices we see and hear everyday should be stopped by government," he said.

Caroline Richard asked the government to tackle the epileptic power supply and insecurity, which she said, had caused the death of many innocent Nigerians.

She further said that many children had gone wayward because good parenting was lacking in most homes.

"Our parents are not always at home. They employ the services of maids to take care of us. This ought not to be so," she told the audience.

Mrs. Maureen Bakare, a board member of the University of Lagos Parents' Forum and the Chairman of the Board of Redeemer's High School, spoke at a debate organized for secondary schools by (CBAAC) to mark the Children's Day.

"If our nation must be lifted from the doldrums which have brought untold hardship to our lifestyle, we must return to the moral principles, decent and just beliefs of old and strictly allow these to shape the course of life towards building a virile and healthy Nigeria that will once again flow with milk and honey", she said.

Bakare continued: "Family values do not allow any female, young or old, to bare her breasts in public. This is anathema to decorum and good upbringing and it has to stop. All concerned must work towards stamping this out. Our traditional dances should not portray us as backward and uncivilized. On this note, the organizers of Miss Nigeria, and all manner of pageants should find more decent ways of detecting beauty and stop stripping our children naked for this purpose. We should allow the primary school children to concentrate on their studies and not introduce beauty competitions to them."

Also, Prof. Tunde Babawale, the Chief Executive of (CBAAC), tasked parents to invest their time and money on the upbringing of their children to forestall decadence in family values in the country.

Speaking on the topic: "The imperative of restoration of family values for effective nation-building: What is to be done?" Babawale, who was represented by Mr. Shadrack Gunle, CBAAC's Deputy Director of Finance and Administration, said the future of children was being threatened by social vices such as prostitution, child abuse and drug abuse because family values were being eroded by lack of parents' interest in their children's upbringing.

Governor Liyel Imoke, after listening to deliberations by the Children's Parliament in the State Executive Council Chambers on Monday, said the state government would enact the child rights bill into law.

Just like other parts of the country, it is common to find kids between the ages of seven and 13 roaming the streets of Calabar as destitute. Some of them live in motor parks.

They are often abused by adults or even get recruited into robbery while a large number is used as housemaids and hawkers.

Against this backdrop, Imoke said that challenges faced by children are not only experienced in urban centers "but in all areas and efforts will be taken to ensure that the state is comfortable for the child".

The governor, who described his government as "children-oriented administration", noted that the parliament's requests were noted as relevant ministries would accommodate them in their budgets.

He frowned at the reports that Cross River was noted for allowing the under-aged to be used for cheap labor outside the state, noting that the state would stop the trend by creating opportunities for the child to grow.

The Speaker of the State Children Parliament, "A state Fit For A Child", Miss Lovet Njar after deliberations, called on government to join 15 other states to enact the Child Rights Act as well as provide it with funds, accommodation, vehicle and scholarship.

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, whose 43rd birthday coincided with the event, promised to curb insecurity and abduction of children in the state.

He told them that his administration would double its efforts to check frequent kidnapping by gunmen.

Amaechi's birthday celebration was held inside a primary school where he promised to do everything within his powers to ensure that the quality of education in the state is improved and that children live without fear of being kidnapped.

Recalling his days at Sacred Heart Primary School, Diobu, Port Harcourt, he told the pupils that he was aware of the challenges and difficulties they face and vowed to stop the menace.

" I appreciate the difficulties and challenges you children are facing. I remember when I was in school. I could walk from my house to school without sandals and nobody kidnapped me. We attended churches and even could gently go around to play with our friends and nobody kidnapped us but how many children can do that now?"

The governor said that the solution to Niger Delta problem is in enforcing the laws because, "if kidnappers are arrested and prosecuted and sent to jail, others will be afraid of going into the business."

He also declared that many of those who claimed that they are fighting for Niger Delta were liars and criminals.

Amaechi admonished the children to remain steadfast and work hard to enhance their chances of becoming the leaders of the state.

Over 60,000 children from various schools in Lagos yesterday gathered at University of Lagos (UNILAG) Sports Center, Akoka, Yaba, to observe the day. The event was organized by Children of Africa magazine, which started its 10th edition of Africa Children's Day six days ago with career talk/fair, sports/games, hygiene and nutrition, quiz, dance drama and choreography.

Mrs. Folake Ademola, who represented the permanent secretary in the Office of the Chief of Staff, Lagos State, inspected the guard of honor during a parade by the children.

Guardian Newspapers