…Enjoins them to rewrite the history

Nigerian children have been assured that, legislations and other measures would be perfected to ensure that they are adequately protected as well as given every opportunity to fully exhibit their potentials.

Two federal lawmakers, Senator Abiodun Olujimi representing Ekiti South constituency who is also minority leader of the Nigerian Senate and Representative Bamidele Salam, the House of Representatives member from Ede north, Ede south, Egbedore and Ejigbo federal constituency of Osun state gave the assurance while addressing the children at the National Assembly complex.

While speaking at the event to mark the International Day for Street Children marked annually on 12th April, Rep. Bamidele Salam stressed that it was important for the children to know that, even adults were at one point in time or the other exposed to the deprivations and hazards that out of school children face today.

 

He explained that legislators their major task is to make laws that will account for order, good governance and welfare of all citizens of the country and such efforts have already bring brought to the front burner.

He said it was part of efforts to salvage the situation that a network of lawmakers in the 9th Assembly have decided to put mechanisms in place to combat most of the challenges children are facing today mentioning that education, healthcare, sexual exploitation, insecurity and lack of parental care are the major problems they encounters.

According to Rep. Salam, the parliament was keen on enacting legislations, reshaping government policies and enforcement of laws such as the relevant provisions of the Constitution, Child Rights Act, Universal Basic Education Act amongst others as they affect the children especially the girl-child.

He announced that, it is in realization of the task ahead that his Non Governmental Organization, Children of Africa Leadership and Values Development Initiative (CALDEV) has initiated various was to mentor and grow wholistic Nigerian children using several means such as civic education and published books emphasising that it was in realization of the urgent need to immediately deplete the 13million number of out of school children in the country.

On her part, Sen. Olujimi applauded those who have braced up to confront the street children menace while expressing optimism that sooner than later the situation would be changed for the better.

The federal lawmaker admonished children to go beyond the stereotype placed on them by proving to be worthy ambassador of the constituency.

She enjoined them to shun vices such as cultism, drug addiction, ritual killings and other social maintaining, when such is achieved the children themselves might have right the wrong occasioned on them.

Earlier in a welcome address, Hajia Zainab Khaleel, the National Coordinator of Young Ambassadors Against Drug Initiative (YAADAI) explained that there are abundant of talents in the street children that, if harnessed could turn around the situation of their existence.

She applauded the federal lawmakers for their commitment to the cause.

Highlights of the event was presentation of two books namely: “160 Things Every Child Should Know About the Nigerian Constitution, Child Rights Act and Other Laws” and well as “Leaders of Our Dream 1 & 2”.

Goodwill messages were also received from The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, United Nations and other key stakeholders.