Kaduna (Nigeria) – United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF has asked Nigerian government to take proactive steps towards ending violence against children.
Speaking through its spokesperson in Kaduna North-West Nigeria, Malam Rabiu Musa said one out of every eight girls suffer sexual violence, adding that every child below the age of 18 suffer one form of violence in the country.
Rabiu said “one out of every six girls and one out of every 10 boys in Nigeria suffer physical violence, which means all stakeholders must come together to protect the rights of children to enable them live normal live as children and as adults.
“There is a lot we are doing on ending violence against children. Every child below the age of 18 suffer one form of violence or the other, one out of every eight girls suffer sexual violence, one out of every six girls and one out of every 10 boy in Nigeria suffer physical violence.
“The opportunity is that we have all agreed that lot is happening to children, there must be change in attitude for them to enjoy their rights, grow up and learn in an environment devoid of violence of one form or the other.
“We need to encourage the state governments to domesticate the child right acts to enable children enjoy their full rights,” he said.
Director General of National Teachers Institute (NTI), Ladan Sharehu in a remark said NTI was motivated to organize the event as part of efforts to improve the welfare of children who are taught by the teachers trained by the institute.
Sharehu, who was represented by Lanre Maja, Dean School of Postgraduate Studies (NTI), urged parents and guardians to protect the right of their children and protect them against ritual killers and abductors.
