Addressing the Audience During a New Year Celebration Party for School Children in Abuja: Ensuring the Safety and Well-being of Children
As we welcomed the New Year with festivities and joy, it is essential to address a matter of utmost importance – the safety and well-being of our children. During a recent celebration party for school children in Abuja, the Minister emphasized the necessity of ensuring the protection of children from any form of abuse, including child molestation, domestic violence, and mistreatment.
The Minister highlighted the significance of legally adopting children and emphasized the need for close monitoring to safeguard them from potential harm. In today’s evolving landscape of child adoption, she emphasized that it is no longer acceptable to adopt a Nigerian child and take them abroad without proper consent and care. Adopting a child should be a responsible decision, taken with the child’s best interests in mind.
The Minister also placed the responsibility on parents to protect their children from all forms of abuse and harmful practices. She urged parents to provide safe spaces for their children’s growth and development, emphasizing that it is unfair and detrimental to have children without providing them with proper love, care, and guidance.
Not only parents but also teachers have a crucial role to play in ensuring children’s rights and well-being. The Minister urged teachers to be attentive to any signs of abuse, to ask questions, and to report any concerns. Maltreatment of children is a crime, and it is the responsibility of everyone in society to protect them.
To address the issue of house helps, the Minister emphasized that they must be of legal age and should not be subjected to any form of maltreatment. The well-being and dignity of these individuals must be ensured, as they play an important role in many households.
In addition to the Minister’s remarks, Rep Kafilat Ogbara, House Committee Chair on Women Affairs, encouraged children to see themselves as contributors to nation-building. She emphasized the importance of prayer, obedience, and dedication to their studies, as these qualities can empower them to achieve greatness in life.
The Gombe state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Asmau Muhammed-Ignamus, highlighted the Child Rights Act as a crucial tool for protecting children’s rights and dignity. This act serves as a legal framework to safeguard children from abuse and ensure their overall well-being.
Overall, the address during the New Year celebration party for school children in Abuja raises awareness about the importance of protecting children and preventing any form of abuse. It reminds parents, teachers, and society as a whole of the responsibility we bear in ensuring the safety and well-being of our children. Only through collective effort can we create a safer and more nurturing environment for our future generation.