Photo: Ministry of Women Affairs
The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, says the ministry is committed to aligning with international treaties for the protection of children’s rights.
She made this known during a school symposium held to commemorate the 2023 Universal Day of the Child at Government Science Technical School Garki, Abuja.
The Minister explained that the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu was designed to ensure that children receive the necessary attention and care.
Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye urged school children to utilize proper channels to bring their challenges to the government’s attention for appropriate actions.
“In 2003, Nigeria adopted the Child Rights Act to domesticate the convention of the rights of the child, the Children Acts of 2003 expands the human rights bestowed to citizens in Nigeria’s 1999 constitution to children. The Act also provides that the best interest of a child should be paramount in all actions that concern a child” she said.
However, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, expressed concern over the pace at which issues bordering on the interest on the girl child are being addressed in the country.
“The child rights acts are yet to be upheld effectively across the country and it’s just a thin line that separates us from getting it right through political will and collective efforts of everybody to protect the rights of the child” she also said.
The Mandate Secretary of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Adedayo Benjanins-Nayini, said the aptness of this year’s theme, “For Every Child, Every Right” given the various trends of child abuse that have significantly impacted the social and cultural landscape.
The highpoint of the event was inspection of an exhibition of items produced by the school children at the Government Science Technical College, Garki Abuja ranging from poultry feeds, electrical installations, household furniture, local fabrics and other items.
The Universal Children’s Day and is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare.
Reporting by Hadiza Abdulrahman & Juliet Onwurah; Editing by Adeniyi Bakare