Bukola Afeni
Save the Children in collaboration with the Federal ministry of Women Affairs and Ministry of Education has called on government at all level to prioritize budget to ensure the implementation of children rights.
The Country Director of Save the Children Nigeria Duncan Harvey made the call at the 7th Assembly of the National Children’s Parliament which held in Abuja.
The program featured children parliament from 24 states in Nigeria .
In his words “We call on the federal and state government to prioritize budget for and ensure the implementation of the rights and to ensure that every child in Nigeria is able to enjoy the rights and privileges that we will like them to be”
“Save the children Nigeria is committed to continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Women Affairs and other stakeholders that protect children’s rights in Nigeria both at the national level in order to ensure that children are given the opportunity to speak for themselves”.
In his speech, representative of the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Women Affairs Gabriel Aduda said: “The Federal ministry of women is very deliberate in promoting the right of Nigerian children to participation, noting that involving children to deliberate on issues that affect their wellbeing makes them more aware of their rights to survival, development, protection and participation, which also empower them to speak out and reducing the nature of silent around sensitive issues that affect them”.
He further urged other state to be part of the program.
“May I call the remaining states to conduct elections of their states Children parliament and to send their representatives to join the 7th national children parliament, as we do not wish to leave any state behind in the next sitting that might still come up”.
The Federal ministry of Education said their aim is to make sure the children and other people are delivered from illiteracy.
“ The education sector is doing everything possible to ensure that our children are groomed in such a way that they can participate adequately wherever they find themselves”.
The kids talked about issues like Child marriage , abuse , lack of education and violence against children and also urge the government to come to their aids .
