Ilewo-Orile, an agrarian community in Abeokuta North local government area of Ogun State recent came alive as it paid host to “Jesudo Segbenjo Future Foundation (JESA) for this year’s Day of African Child, with the theme: Humanitarian Action: Child Right First”.
The guest speaker at the occasion, Mrs. Margaret Erubami from Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta said, all children have the right to protection. They have the right to survive, to be safe, to belong, to be heard, to receive adequate care and to grow up in a protective environment.
According to Erubami, “a family is the first line of protection for children. Parents or other caregivers are responsible for building a protective and loving home environment”.
“Schools and communities are responsible for building a safe and child-friendly environment outside the child's home. In the family, school and community, children should be fully protected so they can survive, grow, learn and develop to their fullest potential”.
She lamented that millions of children worldwide are not fully protected. Many of them are involved in violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, exclusion and discrimination every day, positing that such violations limit their chances of surviving, growing, developing and pursuing their dreams in life.
Erubami noted that it is the duty of government, parents and other stakeholders to work in reducing poverty, inequality, injustice, abuse, exploitation, trafficking, migrant children and all other forms of violence against and torture of children.
On her part, representative of Abiyamo Tooto Women Concern Forum, Mrs. Akoni Abosede educated parents on their responsibilities towards their children.
She said all children have the right to play and learn free from fear; to grow up in a world which enables them to reach their full potential and guarantees their well-being.
Akoni noted that “effective child protection goes beyond governmental institutions, but includes families, communities and civil society”, stressing that “children themselves must be at the centre of the child protection mechanisms”.
She pointed out that governments have the primary responsibility for ensuring that children are protected from violence through appropriate legislation and services.
“A child who grows up in a safe, secure environment is more likely to achieve core developmental, educational and health goals, and will be better equipped to contribute to and participate in the development of his or her society”.
In her welcome address, the founder of JESA, Margaret Abosede Oviutu Adeleke while describing children as future of any society, she appealed to all concerned authorities in child’s upbringing to strategize towards their development, especially in the area of education.
She posited that the challenges facing African children need to be resolved while doors of opportunity should be opened for African future leaders, stressing that children are the most vulnerable in natural and man-made crises.
She submitted that crises often lead to violation of children’s rights and interrupt provision of basic services like health, quality education, clean water, nutrition, protection and adequate standard of living, advocating the promotion and protection of children’s rights.
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