Now that the annual Children’s Day celebration has come and gone,the question of what happens to the average Nigerian child after that one day jamboree?, still lingers in the hearts of concerned parents and education stake holders.
As a matter of fact, it appears that the Nigerian child is only celebrated once in a year, May 27.
Even the so-called annual ritual celebration organized by each state of the federation doesn’t really go round as it parades and favours mostly children of the high and mighty. But to children of the masses, May 27 is just like any other day. And a normal day for an average Nigerian child pictures him already turned into an adult before his time.
He not only has to worry about going to school that lacks almost all necessary amenities , he also has to hawk on the streets and do other menial jobs to assist his family. And while hawking and roaming the streets, some become prays in the hands of social miscreants.
Meanwhile as a sovereign country, the Nigerian child is supposedly protected by rights which ought to ensure his basic needs are met. But on the contrary, these laws hardly cater for every child’s education, feeding, shelter, protection and so on.
What about the classrooms where learning takes place? Although some public schools have had touch ups,others remain in a sorry state.
When a visit was made to the likes of Shokunbi and Mushin Mission Primary Schools, Mushin, it is appalling to say the conditions in which they operate baffles one. With faded coloured buildings, wooden windows,and caved in roofs, sources hinted that the schools’ management have written severally to the government to come to their aid all to no avail.
But in a move to speak with the headmistress(es) of the schools who share same compound concerning the deplorable situation of the schools, she refused further comments, but said they have been instructed to direct anyone who needed information to the secretary of the Local Government.
If we don’t hustle for money, we don’t eat — Musa
Ten years old Musa is one of those Nigerian children who was born into life’s harsh realities. Having left his parents who reside in Kaduna at a tender age,he begins to cater for himself. Accompanied by his 15 years old elder brother,Ahmed who actually brought him down to Lagos, they join forces as shoe repairers near a pedestrian walkway in Mushin area of Lagos.
From their garage abode,they resume work as early as seven in the morning to hustle for at least N100 for breakfast. What about lunch and dinner? “Only Allah can determine that by sending us customers. If we don’t hustle for money, we don’t eat, “ said Musa in a rather sad mood.
I fend for my family — Biodun
Biodun, 11, also has his share of hardship to contend with. His wish is to become a medical doctor but for the untold hardship, he keeps wondering how his dream will come to reality. Obviously tired as a result of hawking sachets of water which had already lost its chilly nature, he sits on the floor under the scorching sun, probably whiling away time before going home.
Refusing to look into the camera, he narrates how he has to fend for his parents who are without jobs. “My name is Biodun. I’m nine years old. I school at Ajegunle and I’m in primary five. I don’t go to school every day because I have to hawk pure water for my parents.
My mother is at home because she doesn’t work, but I don’t know what my father does for a living. I like it whenever I see medical doctors in their uniforms saving lives. But how do I become one of them when my parents can hardly provide three square meals?”
My daughter was a victim of sexual abuse — Mrs. Okafor
According to Mrs Okafor, a parent and entrepreneur, she spoke with an utmost passion, saying her daughter was a victim of sexual molestation. Because of the nature of her work, she seldom spends enough time with her child. She would leave her in the care of a neighbor whose brother was so sex driven and experimented on her daughter.
“Mothers should never turn a blind eye to their children’s predicament, especially their daughters because it’s their responsibility to monitor what revolves around them”. She also said that most parents like herself are to be absolved for the hapless conditions children face. She advised that parents should always provide enough basic needs for their children so they don’t indulge in the act of stealing or begging from others.
Abused children are products of poverty — Mrs. Chinwe
To Mrs.Chinwe Madu, some of the abused children are products of poverty as no normal woman will like to see her child suffer. In her words, “there is no way a woman will suffer for 9 months, give birth only to subject the child to suffering. It is not done’’. But in this case, the children need to help their parents to take care of some of the family needs though it is not their civil responsibility to do to.
But as a child, it would be unfair for you to sit and watch your parents suffer so much when you know you can be of help to them. I think this is one of the reasons why there is a higher rate of child abuse now in the country, especially in big cities like Lagos and Ibadan”, she said.
Chinwe then narrates an ugly experience she finds difficult to forget. The sad incident happened where she resides here in Lagos. To her, if Bose(deceased) had the premonition that living her aged mother back in Togo to live with her divorced aunt here in Lagos, Nigeria will bring her shame, she would have stayed behind. Bose, 12, left her widow mother back in Togo for Lagos to acquire a sound education.
But instead of her to be enrolled into a school, she was forced to take up the role of the bread winner which subjected her to several abuses. She woke up every day by 5 am, goes out to hustle and returns in the evening to provide for her aunt and three children.
But whenever there was nothing she could do to raise money for their daily meals, she involved herself in prostitution. Not only that, she was used by her aunt to satisfy her sex starved customers who would pay her between N50 to N100 after touching and fondling with her body. And refusal to yield to her aunt’s instruction earns her some strokes of the cane and sometimes food denials. But when she eventually got pregnant to Saidu, 14, she was bundled back to her mother in Togo. Saidu happens to be another product of child abuse.
I can’t control the present condition of my children—Mrs Adelabu
Mrs Adelabu, a mother and street hawker, said she can’t control the present condition her children is facing. She lamented that ever since she lost her husband in a fatal accident years ago, it has been difficult bringing up the children all by herself. She couldn’t afford to send them to school thereby relying heavily on the little she makes from her sales.
She says sometimes her heart becomes painful whenever she sees other children going to school and prays someday things would be better for her children. Sometimes, according to her, her daughter would come home crying saying that she was beaten up,or worse harassed by thugs without being paid for what was purchased.
There is need for children to be nurtured and assisted—Barr. Yemisi Wada
Speaking with Barr. Yemisi Wada she is of the opinion that childhood is a unique period of rapid physical and psychological development during which young people’s physical, mental and emotional health and well being can be permanently affected for better or worse.
This is why Children’s Right Law is important because children are the future of the nation. In general,there is a need for them to be nurtured and assisted to develop into responsible and productive adults,who will take over the administration of the society later.
Under the Law, the child is conferred with rights to life, survival and balanced development. Therefore, issues relating to their dignity, respect, health, leisure activities, their freedom and protection from all forms of abuse and exploitation should be addressed. “Nigerian children suffer and it is so unfair.
The Child Rights Act has only been ratified and passed into Law in a few States in the Country and I am glad Lagos State is one of these states. The reasons why they haven’t been adopted in others is the same reason why abuses are reigned on women in different parts of the country in the name of culture.
They claim the Child Rights Act is alien to our Culture. There is great corruption in the land and again the most vulnerable are the children. The funds to provide Health care, sound Education, Security are misappropriated and these basic needs of children are not met. And for those of us working with children raising funds, it is like getting blood out of stone,” she lamented. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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hmmmm where is the people we elected? #sad#
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