Children’s day celebration is undoubtedly one of the most recognized days on the calendar. Not just because of its popularity but because it reiterates the already established point that children are the leaders of tomorrow.
The main focus of the UN in establishing a day for celebrating children is,” to promote awareness among children, togetherness and improving children’s welfare as well as advocate the rights of the child”.
The rights of the child in Nigeria have been fully accepted in the law. But some parents and society are yet to grasp this thereby putting the child in constant danger with activities such as hawking, exposure to vices, violence-filled communities, exploitation, and insecurity even in the learning environment.
In recent times, banditry, kidnap and rape have been on the increase in the society, and children of school age are the worst hit.
The case of five-year-old Hanifa Abubakar who was kidnapped by her teacher Abdulmalik Muhammed in Kano state easily comes to mind.
While investigations continue on 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni’s murder who also died from severe torture and has remained inconclusive, another report comes in on a case of a 10-year-old student involved in a sex scandal.
The headteacher, G. I. Azike stated, “with a few of her counterparts, she willfully participated in a game they called ‘truth or dare’, a game which led her and a few other co-learners to carry out the immoral act after the lights out instruction were given.”. This is worrisome as parents are left to wonder why the caregivers were absent and left children without guidance after light-outs after paying some amount for their trip which included welfare and security.
A Schoolchild aged 5 was also raped by a school bus driver. Several children have also been affected in a gas explosion incident that occurred in the Sabon Gari area of Kano not to forget the Kaduna bandit seizure of about 120 school children.
These recurring incidents leave worries in the minds of Nigerians who are wondering what the school authorities and the Government are doing to secure its future.
A few days back, 12-year-old, Emmanuel Amidu, died at Lagos University Teaching Hospital after being flogged by a teacher over incomplete mathematics homework.
This is worrisome as guardians and parents are scared to send their wards to school for learning because of the constant fear of who is next on the attack list. It is also alarming that our school system is in decry, caregivers are lackadaisical in carrying out their duty which makes them unaware of when their wards are in danger, or in need of counseling or special attention.
A mother of 3, Mrs Gail ikelle stated,’ ‘’as a parent in this present times, we sending our children to school is us taking a leap of faith and is us keeping our fingers crossed, most parents are sending their children abroad just to keep their kids alive for them. My child’s classmate is an example, he was withdrawn and taken abroad at the start of the term. From the school bus, and bike man to the teachers assaulting them with words my child has complained about his teacher scolding him for everything and nothing seems to be enough. This is bad, if my children were to be in the north, they would not be in school. This celebration is just another day because there is nothing to celebrate; I cannot even take them out because taking them out with public transport is not even safe because of kidnap cases recorded so I prefer to go out alone. These children are indirectly suffering the effects of these insecurities because they are not comfortable but they have no choice’’.
From the perspective of the school, the authorities cannot be everywhere and most times they do not know the school drivers to their root and the teachers are going through psychological issues. This also affects the children who get wrong orientation from home, from previous experience and could possibly harm their fellow mates. Truth be told, I am constantly in panic mode and all I can do is pray for them.
Primary school teacher Amarachi Ezeigwe stated that she carries out her job dutifully as a caregiver in full capacity and treats each child individually, “I understand that each child is an individual and I try to create a balance between the child, the parent, and the school and treat their needs differently both in academics, socially and as a group does not spank or shun any child and I create a welcome chat in front of my class.
This puts them in the right mode for the day and I also create privacy and do not allow children of the opposite or even same-sex to be in the restroom at the same time. On children’s day, I also have planned for them to talk on child rights and drama to drive home the point”.
A school proprietress Mrs. Yetunde Babatunde Olarewaju spoke on the issue,” I am aware of the insecurity in the country and as a school, I have put in place a policy that only parents are allowed to bring and pick up students, and in cases of parents not being around, the parent has to give the school a notice and adequate details of the person to pick up their wards. Teachers are not allowed to scold or shun. Any misconduct in the class is brought to me for assessment and I in turn would take over the judgment. In serious cases, we place a call to the parents and we discuss the issue and come to a conclusion on how best to handle the child. In the case of a child displaying traits of bullying, the child is isolated after discussion with the parents and taken to the counseling unit”.
A secondary school teacher Ms Adaeze Ukoh explained that children should be celebrated no matter what.”Children shouldn’t be denied their day at all. The school continues to measure up by making sure of secure entry points into the school premises. Also any case of kidnap would be at home and not in the school. Whatever be the case, these children should be celebrated in any way possible no matter the situation”.
Protection of Children
The Safe School Initiative Program unveiled in 2014 following the abduction of the chibok girls from the school in Borno state should be revisited and equipped to continue.
Security personnel should be deployed to safeguard schools from possible harm.
This is not a time for blame game as everyone should be involved in tackling this incessant menace.
If these children are not nurtured, groomed, and secured to adulthood then there is no future for the country. Our children are our future and it is their right to be protected.
Written by Nkiruka Nwachukwu, editing by Daniel Adejo
