The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), FCT chapter, has urged government to address the increasing numbers of street children and ensure the protection of the rights of every Nigerian child.
The Chairperson of the association in Abuja, Mrs Bassey Ita-Ikpang, made the call in a statement on Monday to commemorate the 2024 International Children’s Day celebration.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the children’s day is marked every year on May 27 as sanctioned by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to celebrate and appreciate the needs of children and address them.
First established in Nigeria in 1964, the day is also to raise awareness on issues that affect children and help nations to appreciate the fact that they are the future of societies.
Ita-Ikpang, who noted the increasing number of street children in Abuja, urged Mrs Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, the Mandate Secretary, Federal Capital Territoey Aadministration (FCTA), Women Affairs and Children, to implement policies and programmes that would address the menace.
She urged the mandate secretary to do more for children, following insecurities in the FCT.
She stated that “there is need to address the increasing number of school-age children hawking on the streets.”
The chairperson also urged government, parents, schools and other stakeholders to ensure that child rights are not trampled upon.
“It is government’s responsibility to protect every Nigerian child and formulate policies that carry them along and consider their vulnerability, by protecting their basic rights,” she added.
She noted some of the rights to include Right to Freedom of Movement, Right to Dignity of the Child, Right to Survival and Development, Right to freedom from discrimination and Education.
Others, she stated, are Rights to Inclusion in Decisions Making, Healthy Environment, Access
to Medical Care and Safety in School.
(NAN)
