By Ibukun Emiola
Ibadan – As the world celebrates the Universal Children’s Day, experts say concerted efforts must be put in place to train children as well as secure their future.
They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Tuesday that government at all levels must provide children the enabling environment for them to realise their full potentials.
Mr Adetunji Adepeju, the Scout Commissioner in Oyo State, stressed the importance of keeping children safe while training them to realise their potentials.
“Apart from the safety of children, Nigeria has the universal basic education system where children are supposed to have access to basic education in the first 12 years of life from primary to junior secondary school.
“At the national level, there are programmes like nomadic education which are designed to cater for certain categories of children,’’ he said.
He, however, cited challenges facing children to include abuse and molestation, especially for the girl-child.
“The way forward is to go back to the good old days when we had voluntary organisations looking after children like the Scouts, Brigade, Red Cross and others.
“Children need to be engaged in activities and skills that will shape their morals and values as well as make them better citizens,’’ he said.
Mrs Foluso Adigun, the Team leader for Women Connected by Purpose in Ibadan, an NGO, said adequate provision should be made to secure the rights of children.
“Every mother should have access to antenatal care and when the child is born, education should begin.
“ Funding from government and non-governmental organisations will go a long way to cater for the needs of children.
“Once children have good education, I mean western and civic education, the child begins to value the system and culture.
“These will put him or her in good stead to be able to give back to the society and contribute to the socio-economic development of the nation,” Adigun said.
Mrs Motunrayo Aroloye, the Director of Woman of Worth Foundation, enjoined government to place premium on education of children through legislation and budgetary allocation.
“There should be enough schools where sound education can be taught; as a matter of fact it should be a crime for any child to be out of school because the quality of their foundation determines their future.
“Adequate laws that can protect them from sexual offenders should also be enacted and offenders should face the full wrath of the law to serve as deterrent to others,’’ she said.
Aroloye also admonished parents to take active participation in the grooming and training of their wards.
NAN reports that the theme for the 2018 Universal Children’s Day celebration is “ Children are Taking over and Turning the World Blue.’’ (NAN)