As Nigeria joins the world to mark the Universal Day of the Child, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has affirmed that the country made progress in the area of child protection through the domestication and implementation of the Child Rights Act (CRA). 

Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, had noted that “government has continued to prioritise the rights of children” across the country by ensuring their access to basic amenities, education and protection from violence. 

The minister stated this at a symposium with pupils from various schools, at Government Science Technical School, yesterday, in Abuja.  UNICEF Director of Programmes, Nigeria, Chikodi Onyemerela, said children’s rights to quality medical services, education, developmental rights, rights to protection, education and emotional abuse, among others, must never be compromised.

MEANWHILE, UNICEF has said over 110 million Nigerian children are at risk from the harsh realities of rising temperatures, flooding, drought and severe storms.  In a statement, yesterday, the Country Representative, Cristian Munduate, noted that this year’s celebration was a crucial platform for the children, the most affected by climate change, to voice their concerns and experiences.  “Their input is essential in shaping our collective path towards a sustainable and resilient future,” she said. 

UNICEF lamented the alarming rate of child displacement due to environmental  disasters, “with 650,000 children displaced from 2016 to 2021 due to floods.”  

Government, development partners, civil society organisations (CSOs) and the private sector have been charged to advocate climate education and child rights.   

Events across the country saw children leading discussions on the significant impact of climate change on their lives and futures.   

Director General, National Council on Climate Change, Dr Salisu Dahiru, said: “As one of the countries that suffer the greatest exposure to adverse climate impact, Nigeria’s response to climate change must be swift and holistic, accounting for the needs of vulnerable people, including children and women, at the decision-making level, as well as in the implementation of the National Climate Change Action Plan.”

Commissioner for Youth and Social Development in Lagos, Mobolaji Ogunlende, said: “We need to ensure we have a clean and healthy environment, where our children can thrive and grow. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu takes the climate issue very seriously, which is why it is one of the key drivers in our agenda.”

To make the environment clean, greener, and making it safe generally for the kids to thrive in. If the environment is not conducive, the children will not grow properly.”

GOMBE State Commissioner for Education, Aishatu Maigeri, has said UNICEF has not left any child behind, especially in the areas of education and nutrition.

Other areas UNICEF, according to her, has been intervening are development of Gombe education sector plan, safe schools and teaching at the right levels.

The commissioner stated at the 2023 end of the year review meeting in Gombe, yesterday, that the international organisation had been working tirelessly to put smiles on the faces of women and children across the Bauchi Field Office.