By Ibironke Ariyo
A government organization, the Initiative Against Kidnapping, Dealing with People, Child Abuse and Drug Abuse (AKH-TRACADA), has called on the federal government to step up the fight to protect children’s rights.
The founder of AKH-TRACADA, Belonwu Ezeanyaeche, heeded the call in a statement commemorating the Moon Children’s Day celebration in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of Children’s Day 2024 is “For every child, every right.”
Ezeanyaeche says priests should not treat investing in their children’s future lightly and agrees that the government must also provide infrastructure and ensure that all Nigerian children are well cared for.
I say that priests and government at all levels must prioritize the future of Nigerian children, especially those under the age of 18, by providing them with a sound education.
I urge states that have not yet passed the Child Rights Act to do so and at the same time direct the National Assembly (NASS) to harmonize various laws that define what a child is in the country.
Ezeanyaeche recalled that in commemoration of the 2015 World Day Against Child Labor and the International Day of the African Child, celebrated in Abuja, the association lamented that more than 100 million African children are involved in various forms of child labour.
Let us remember that around 50 million in Asia also suffer the same fate and most of them are illegally employed in farms and factories that work with dangerous chemicals and machines.
This, I say, is what could endanger their lives, leading to premature death due to industrial accidents.
Please note that the theme is for the 2015 version; “In child labor it is about quality education”; It was ideal.
This, I say, is due to what we call public attention to a global action to promote and guarantee the rights of children to quality education for their self-reliance.
“This year’s theme is a reminder that the country must continue to create a safe environment so that children can grow into resourceful, creative, and patriotic adults.
“The so-called advanced western countries, including the United States of America, similarly involve immigrants and ethnic minority children in child labor by companies to reduce their production costs.
“The government must intensify its efforts to eliminate all forms of child labor and abuse by fighting a tough battle against kidnapping, human trafficking, suspension of children and illicit substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country “, I say.
Ezeanyaeche urges the government to encourage and empower teachers so that they can feel a sense of belonging that boosts their morale to continue teaching children.
I say: “When teachers are well remunerated, sufficient funds are available for research work and when teachers are well equipped and qualified, Nigerian students will be able to compete favorably with their counterparts in other parts of the world.
“I believe that we must help education in general and that people can aspire high so that if a pastor or evangelist knows and understands the Bible very well, he can interpret it very well, I say.
However, the head of the NGO warned the priests that they were only managing the number of children they could raise so that they could become responsible citizens through effective family planning.
This, I say, is due to the trend in child trafficking, whereby young women are hired as maids or sales girls, only to be forced into prostitution.
He lamented that most of the children hired as domestic servants were abused, exploited, and sexually harassed, which explains the alarming rise in cases of swearing and rape in recent times.
AKH-TRACADA collaborated with the South East Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Enugu, and the Anambra State Command of the Department of State Services (DSS) to dismantle several “baby factories”. in Nigeria.
“There was a particular case in Ama-sea, a suburb of Awka, where over 35 sex workers were arrested in 2014, some of them with children.
“About three of them were pregnant and identified the men responsible for their pregnancies.
“For our part, we will not relent in our efforts to ensure that children’s rights are protected at all costs,” he said.
I regret that most of the children hired as domestic servants were abused, exploited, and sexually harassed, which explains the alarming rise in cases of swearing and rape in recent timesAlso Read
AKH-TRACADA urges FG to step up fight to protect children’s rights
