By Angela Atabo
The SOS Children’s Village Nigeria, an NGO, has called for concerted efforts toward protecting the rights and welfare of children, and addressing all challenges affecting them.
The Deputy Speaker of the SOS Youth Parliament, Favour Atulegwu, made the call at a news conference to inaugurate a campaign tagged, “Stomping for Peace”, in Abuja on Friday.
Atulegwu also called for improved investment in schools and stressed the need to fight for peace in all spheres of children’s lives.
This, according to her, will enable every child to have a chance for a better and quality life.
She said that more than 39.2 per cent of Nigerian children were involved in child labour, with 22.9 per cent of them working in dangerous conditions.
“Right now, over 18 million children in Nigeria are out of school, mostly because of conflicts, poverty, and instability.
“Also, nearly 70 per cent of Nigerian children are living in abject poverty because of neglect, abandonment, and other tough socio-economic conditions,” she said.
She explained that the campaign was about promoting peace and standing up for the rights and well-being of children across the country.
“To us, peace is not just about not having wars or conflicts; peace is the key to having a good education and a better life.
“Right now, children in Nigeria face so many challenges that put our peace and well-being at risk,” she said.
She added that the campaign was also designed to enable children to make demands, particularly for peace against child labour, trafficking and peace for quality education.
Other requests, she said, include a demand for peace against neglect and abandonment, peace against violence and insecurity in schools, and peace for nutrition and quality of life.
“We are also asking for peace against environmental hazards, peace against cultism and kidnapping, and peace against climate change and hunger, amongst others,” she added.
A member of the parliament, Mr Eyekomagba Chimezie, also argued that millions of children across the country were suffering from severe malnutrition.
Chimezie said that the development makes it very difficult for the affected children to grow healthy and reach their full potential.
He added that other children were equally facing multiple risks from the crisis of climate change.
“These are not just numbers; these represent our brothers, our children, our sisters, our friends and our future leaders, whose rights to a safe and happy childhood are being denied.
“We refuse to stay quiet while our future is being taken from us.
“Let us come together to ensure proper care and to avoid neglect and abandonment for Nigerian children; let us come together to end violence and insecurity of Nigerian children.”
Chimezie further called for synergy among government agencies and relevant stakeholders to ensure a safe environment where children would be able to grow safe and healthy. (NAN)
