UNICEF, NAU ADVOCATE FOR PROTECTION, WELFARE OF CHILDREN, INAUGURATES CHILD RIGHT CLUBS IN ANAMBRA SCHOOLS…AS NAU HOLDS MAIDEN SUMMIT ON CHILD RIGHTS 

By Uzo Ugwunze :

The United Children Education Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) Awka has called on everyone to join the advocacy on promotion of Children’s Rights, protection and welfare especially in the present information age.

The call was made during the Maiden National Summit on Child Rights cum inauguration of Child Right Clubs in Anambra Primary and Secondary Schools held at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.

Presenting a paper Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, who was represented by Dr Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe during the Summit themed “Taking Sustainable Positive Actions for the Nigerian Child in the Information Age”, said that when adults make decisions, they should think about how their decisions will affect children. 

“All   adults should do what is best for children. Governments should make sure children are protected and looked after by their parents, or by other people when this is needed. Governments should make sure that people and places responsible for looking after children are doing a good job.

“The Convention on the Rights of the child is very intentional on who child is, that is children below 18 years of age. Article 23 unequivocally maintained that Every child has the right to an education. Primary education should be free. Secondary and higher education should be available to every child. Children should be encouraged to go to school to the highest level possible. Discipline in schools should respect children’s rights and never use violence”.

The Keynote Speaker, Dean, Faculty of Law, NAU, Prof V Ogugua Ikpeze posited that both male and female children should be given equal opportunities to enjoy their fundamental human rights cum child rights, saying that negative cultural practices like female genital mutilation should be abolished.

“Let us be vigilant to protect our children because child molestation may be ongoing behind your curtain perpetrated by a family member, friend, neighbor or stranger. Watch when that child changes behavior and know the next step to take before the damage becomes irrecoverable,” Ikpeze added.

Moreso, the Chairman, Planning committee, Dr Obiora Edogor in his Speech stressed the need to sustain more efforts to ensure better protection of children. 

“We implore development partners such as UNICEF and others to assist NAU more in its great efforts toward promoting child rights. The reason is that the present information age with its concomitant new media technologies adds to the hurdles confronting the rights of the Nigerian child. 

“The abysmal situation of the Nigerian child even after over 20 years of the enactment of the Child Right’s Act 2003 is worrisome and should be redressed without further ado. This is to provide a conducive environment for the Nigerian child to thrive academically, technologically, scientifically, socially, politically, economically, and culturally.

“I would want to arguably state that, the Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s soil is manured with staff that exude enthusiasm for child rights as I got immersed into it from the university. I could vividly recall how Prof. Chinyere Okunna, first female professor of Mass Communication in sub-Saharan Africa FNGE, FNIPR, FACCE, NUJ Matriarch, implanted in me the mustard seed and zeal for studies on child rights. 

“Today, this summit is one of the fruits of that Okunna’s mustard seed. Also, the child rights club to be inaugurated in this event in all public secondary schools within Anambra State emanated from the same Okunna’s seed,”  Edogor said.

Declaring the workshop open a day earlier, the Acting Vice Chancellor, NAU, Prof Carol Arinze-Umeobi ably represented by the Director, Academic Planning, Prof Angela Ufele-Obiesie commended the efforts of UNICEF toward hosting the summit which is the first of such in Nigeria, adding that today’s global concern on Child rights sprouted from the aversion of the vulnerabilities to which children were exposed in Europe during the second World war.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Paul’s University and NUJ Matriarch, Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna, in her paper titled ‘The Role Of The Nigerian Media In Bridging The Urban And Rural Divide For Children In The Digital Age’, tasked journalists to be internet savvy and use their power to help children enjoy their rights as enshrined in the Child rights law, including access to the digital space.

Prof Okunna charged them as gatekeepers to open doors of access to quality information in the digital space and discourage anybody that does not want children both in the rural and urban areas to access the information opportunities provided by digital ICT.

Contributing, Executive Chairman ASUBEB, Dr Vera Nkiru Nwadinobi said,”We are interested in children and we fight for children, Children must be treated with respect, equality, they have the fundamental rights to life, protection, education. 

“I thank UNICEF, in Anambra State, Gov. Chukwuma Soludo has done a lot to ensure that out of school children are back. He employed over 8000 teachers including those posted to hard to reach areas. Declared free education for all public primary and secondary schools. Governor commanded Principals to refund all tuition paid by Senior Secondary School students in the public Schools this term.”

Dignitaries and Resource persons who added their views toward promoting Child Rights in the present information age during the 2 Day summit include, National Summit Chairman, President Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe represented by Former NBA Awka Branch Chairman, Barr. Amaka Ezeno, President; Associations of childhood Educators of Nigeria, Prof. Ngozi Anyikwa; Head, Department of Mass Communication,NAU, Prof Allen Adum,Registrar, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Mr Sam Ufoh represented by the Deputy Registrar, Dr Blessing Ezeafulukwe, The Nigerian Union of Journalists State Chairman, Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Managing Director of Anambra Broadcasting Service, (ABS), Mr. Christopher Molokwu, ably represented by Ms Sandra Akpan.

Highlights of the summit include Inauguration of the Child rights club in Anambra public Primary and Secondary Schools by UNICEF and the setting up of a six man committee to draft a template for Child Rights Reporting for journalists.

*Ugwunze is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State.