CAMAC Congratulates Nigerian Children, Advocates Good Education, Training

Center for Media Advocacy for Mother and Child (CAMAC), has congratulated the Nigerian Children as they commemorate the 2020 annual “Children’s Day in Nigeria”.

Children’s Day in Nigeria, it says,is aimed at raising public awareness of problems, that children face. About 42% of the Nigerian population are children and 1/3 of children aged from 6 to 14 don’t go to schools. Many children leave schools for different purposes and children’s rights are often violated.

A statement issued by the Executive Director, Alex Uangbaoje says the Centre  believes that Nigerian children must be given all the necessary care and attention, especially quality education, that they require to attain their goals in life and that concerted efforts must be done by all Nigerians to achieve a better tomorrow for them..

“Our children have a lot of potential that must be carefully harnessed through good education and training.

“CAMAC, called on government at all levels to continue to formulate implementable policies, and frameworks, that can give the children qualitative education to reduce the high number of out-of-school children in the country.

“CAMAC, therefore commends the Federal Government for her post-Covid back to school plan for children.

“Even though the pandemics came with fears and uncertainty, one of the positive effects of it in Nigeria, is the attention it has brought to restructuring of the Almajiri system of education in the Northern part of Country.

“Many of them are now being reunited with their families and also being enrolled to in schools for western system of education which was never the case before the pandemic.

“The last few months have been challenging for both government and citizens,  which has also led to the lockdown of all sectors of the economy, including shorting down of schools across the country.

‘CAMAC, noted that Covid-19 has negatively impacted on the education of children in the country. Though some states have started e-learning system to keep the children in shape, but it can never be as effective as them being in physical classes. It is therefore imperative for government to provide all necessities that will be required in the protection of children as they return to school post Covid-19.

“CAMAC, also encouraged children to adhere to the guideline given by the WHO and various governments on how they can be safe and protected during the lockdown and when they eventually resume school.

“CAMAC is a media advocacy group that focuses on policies and programmes that favour vulnerable women, adolescent girls and children in areas of education, health, child’s rights, protection, development and survival, while also drawing the attention of government and other stakeholders to their plight, with the view to finding lasting solutions to their problem. Additionally, it creates awareness and sensitizing the public on the above areas.

“Stay safe, stay protected”, the statement concludes.