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| Some Children during past celebration of the day |
By Adeshola Giwa
Nigeria celebrates Children's Day today and though all the exhibition and colour associated with it will be lacking due to the prevalence of Coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic that has deadlocked every human activity in the world, De Norsemen Kclub International will not, despite this human adversity, fail to identify and congratulate Nigerian children as they mark their special day today.
Due to COVID-19 preventive guidelines and restrictions, schools, which habour the largest gathering of children, are still under lock and key. So, there will be no march past, no cultural display and other fascinating social and sporting activities. We encourage Nigerian children not to be despair but to make the best out of the situation as they stay at home to celebrate.
As children celebrate in a remarkable style, leaders and parents should use this very tasking moment to reflect on the welfare and well-being of Nigerian children as future builders of the nation. Every child must be loved and cared for as the dignity and symbol of our national pride and existence.
Citizens of goodwill must be sensitive to the plight of Nigerian children with a conscientious commitment to solving them. Specifically, the Nigerian child is overwhelmed with malnutrition and hunger, homelessness and hopelessness, child labour, child abduction and trafficking, sexual assault, child marriage, lack of education, child abuse, among others.
Since there may not be avenues for making flamboyant and verbose speeches in this year's observance, it is important that parents and policy makers should use this opportunity to deeply rethink and bring out practical solutions to the challenges of the Nigerian child.
If the future of the Nigerian child is not protected through quality education sustainable healthcare, Nigeria, herself, does not have any future. Though most governments at all levels pay lip service to the welfare of the Nigerian child, De Norsemen Kclub International commends some efforts of the government to bring succour and hope to Nigerian children through free school feeding programme, free basic education, enactment and domesticating of child rights laws, banning of almajirism et cetera.
As an international humanitarian organization, De Norsemen Kclub International is determined to make Nigerian children happy and comfortable at all times. As part of our mandate, the various chapters in Nigeria have consistently presented basic needs such as food and clothing to orphanages, remand homes, hospitals and so on.
We have also donated books and educational materials to schools to enhance teaching and learning of the Nigerian child. The Kclub equally holds annual children's party where rich and useful gifts are shared to children to give them sense of belonging and accommodation.
We task the Federal Government to intensify efforts to release Leah Sharibu, the remaining Chibok Girls and every other child in the satanic captivity of Boko Haram terrorists. We implore them to beef up security around learning centres to ward off unforeseen attacks on innocent children.
Children are gifts from God. They make ways for us if we treat them right. They equally mar our ways if we treat them wrongly. For us to achieve sustainable national development through quality leadership, we must invest in our children.
*Dr. Adeshola Giwa is International President, De Norsemen Kclub International
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