By Polycarp Auta
Gombe – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday that over 50 per cent of Nigerian children suffered physical violence in schools.
Ms Ladi Alabi, the Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, made the disclosure on Thursday at the ongoing Child Protection System Strengthening (CPSS) meeting in Gombe.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was at the instance of UNICEF with support of European Union (EU), United Nations (UN) and other international organisations.
Alabi explained that the figures emanated from the survey conducted in 2014 by the National Population Commission (NPC), which states that Nigerian children suffer high prevalence of all forms of violence.
She said that a high percentage of children also suffered physical violence within the family setting and the immediate environment.
”Teachers are the most perpetrators of the first incidence of physical violence for children in Nigeria.
”Statistics shows that over 50 per cent of children in Nigeria suffer physical violence in schools.
”Also, 35.5 per cent of girls and 34.1 per cent of boys suffer physical violence within the family and immediate environment.
”So, parents and adult relatives are the most common perpetrators of physical violence in childhood,” she said.
Alabi called on teachers to desist from administering corporal punishments on children and adopt modern and softer ways of instilling discipline in children without necessarily infringing on their rights.
The child protection specialist urged government at all levels to support the fight aimed at stemming incidence of violence against children.
She also charged parents and caregivers to ensure that Nigerians children get better future; a future free of violence at all levels.
