Nigerian children today joined their counterpart in some countries to celebrate Children?s Day. It is a special day set aside by the Federal and State Governments to celebrate children.

Of course in their honour, the Federal Government declared May 27th as public holiday. It means, ?no school today.?

Though the United Nations celebrates World Children?s Day on another day, it says the occasion is meant to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children?s welfare.

OJI:

?Since 1990, World Children?s Day also marks the anniversary of the date that the UN General Assembly adopted both the Declaration and the Convention on children?s rights.

?World children?s day offers each of us an inspirational entry-point to advocate, promote and celebrate children?s rights, translating into dialogues and actions that will build a better world for children.?

UNICEF describes the celebration as a global day of action for children, by children, marking the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

It further argued: ?Child rights are human rights. They are non-negotiable and universal. But in too many places today children?s rights are being misunderstood, disregarded or even denied and attacked.

OHAGWA:

?Upholding children?s rights is the compass to a better world ? today, tomorrow and into the future. By listening to children we can fulfill their right to self-expression, understand their ideas for a better world and include their priorities in our actions today.?

As expected in Nigeria, the federal and state governments would roll out the drums, make long speeches and also make yet more promises to the children who are the future of the nation.

In Lagos, the state government has rolled out a weeklong activity to mark the celebration, which started on Tuesday, May 20th and the ground finale is the children?s parade and rally at the Police College Ground, Ikeja.

In other states, similar activities have been put in place to celebrate the children. It is an occasion where the children see their governors, his/her deputy, speakers, first lady, local government chairmen and lawmakers after which the door is shut against them till another children?s celebration next year.

In our special report, the children are saying no to this ?once in year see our political office holders? and after which nobody remembers them again until another May 27th.

Some of their demands centered on issue that affects them and their parents. The demands include provision of quality education, better welfare for their teachers, free medical care, regular electricity, improved security, high cost of food and availability of jobs for their parents.

AKANINYENE:

Clement Awoniyi, 16, a pupil of Greater Academy, Isolo, Lagos, says he knows the government would declare May 27th public holiday and talk about issues affecting them as well as make promises to better their lots.

The SS111 pupil, who wants to study Computer Engineering, asked if our leaders do keep or remember their promises they make during each children?s day celebration.

?Do their children attend schools and hospitals in the country? Their children are well fed and have the best of things, which many of us dream of. The country needs sincere leaders that will pay attention to our needs,? Awoniyi stated.

The young lad told Daily Sun that he expects the government to address the issues of quality education such as learning facilities, improved the welfare of teachers, pay WAEC fees of SS111 students in private schools, ensure regular electricity, free healthcare for children under 18 years, insecurity, create jobs for parents and youths.

In his contribution, Tajudeen Ishola, SS11 student of a public school in Ogba, acknowledged that he has been attending children day celebration since his primary school days at Police College Ikeja and expects this year to be different, ?it shouldn?t be the usual talk, talk without listening to us. We should be given the opportunity to speak. Let the state governors allow the children to address them that day.?

He acknowledged that it has always been our leaders talking at such occasions every year and pleaded that children be given the opportunity to say their minds on issues affecting them.

?For me, I want the government to ensure every child enjoys free and quality education, empower the youths with skills, make healthcare affordable, repair bad roads, constant electricity and ensure adequate security in the country,? Ishola requested.

?I want the government to focus on things that affect us and make us happy. It is only their children that are enjoying in this country as well as tackle hunger in the land. They should remember the poor people. As usual they promise us many things, which they forget when the leave the venue of the children?s day celebration,? says Daniel Nwachukwu, an SS111 student of Margaret Mary Memorial College, Oshodi, Lagos.

The 17-year-old Nwachukwu said poor children from different homes are facing many challenges while children of politicians don?t lack anything.

He listed his demands to include provision of free and quality education for all children, address issue of teachers? welfare including private schools, provide jobs for youths, tackle the insecurity in the country, better medical care for Nigerians, tackle hunger and also power supply.

Eleven-year-old pupil of Rising Sun Children School, Egbe, Lagos, Miracle Ekwuozor, said on education, ?the government should focus on the provision of digital literacy and technology integration, promote STEM education by equipping students with critical thinking and analytical skills.??

On healthcare, the pupil demands the government increase funding of the sector to ensure children have access to quality medical care and ensure they receive vaccinations to help protect them from preventable diseases.

The Basic 6 pupil advised the government to support farmers to increase food production to reduce our reliance on imported food, make food affordable as well as provide storage facilities to avoid waste.

According to her, the government should use the opportunity to promote the Child?s Right Act, tackle the challenges faced by children such as access to quality education, better healthcare, empower them with skills and tap their potentials to boost their talents.

Jessica Onolunosen, pupil of Rising Sun Children School, Egbe, Lagos, in her demand, like others, education top the list. She urged the government to improve access to education and reabsorbed millions of out-school-kids.

The Basic 6 pupil asked the government to look into school children displayed by conflicts in certain areas and addresses the disparity among states in the provision of quality education.

Onolunosen made a passionate appeal to the government to provide free health services and modern facilities to ensure children have access to quality healthcare, especially in the rural areas. She also talked about immunization of children to prevent measles, polio and other communicable diseases.

The eleven-year-old pupil advised the government to eradicate hunger in the country and invest in agriculture as well as support farmers to produce food crops.

School children in Akwa Ibom State have requested government at all levels to be more committed to education instead of showing cosmetics and lip service to issues in the sector.

Speaking with our Correspondent in Uyo, two pupils, namely Levite Akaninyene John, Basic 5 and Peace Akaninyene John, Basic 1 one respectively from Christ the King Primary School, Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo, said though the state government has built classroom blocks, more are still needed to enhance their education.

Levite; a Basic 5 pupil insisted that government should provide books to cover all subjects taught in the school.

?We received school bags, uniforms and shoes from the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, and we say thank you your Excellency. But the books do not cover all the subjects. We need more books.?

Peace Akaninyene John, a Basic 1 pupil and sister to Levite complimented the position of her brother.

She said she has only two exercise books that cannot cover all the writing materials in the school, noting, ?We want government to give us books. We have desks to sit, uniforms, shoes but no books to read and write.?

Joseph Effiong, a Basic 6 pupil of St Joseph Catholic Primary School, Afaha Oku in Uyo local government area has another demand for government as the school is struggling with dilapidated buildings.

MONUMENT OF SHAME

Effiong, 10 years, asked state government to build more classroom blocks, as pupils don?t have classrooms to receive their lessons.

?I don?t know where we will sit down and take our Common Entrance Examination coming up in June. We want government to build classrooms to accommodate both teachers and pupils.?

On availability of food to eat before going school, Effiong said lack of food is another problem, stating, ? I eat once a day when I return from school. My mother said cost of food items are high and reduced our meal to once a day. I always sleep in class because of hunger. If there is anything government will do to bring down price of foodstuffs, I will appreciate and thank the government. It affects performance in the class.?

In Benue State, school children have tasked both federal and state governments to take decisive and proactive measures to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the state.

Terdoo Gbande, 14 years old and a pupil of Idyu Nursery and Primary School, Makurdi, has been out of school for two terms in this academic year due to inability of her parents to pay her fees.

?I stopped going to school close to the end of the second term when we were writing exams. When the exams started, the headmaster asked me not to come to school again because my parents have not paid my school fees. He also said we owe the school fees for other terms and they would no longer allow me to continue.

?When the third term began in April, I started going to school but the headmaster still asked me to stop coming. So since then I have been at home. This third term, I have not learn anything in school at all? she said in an unhappy voice.

Asked what she wants the government to do, Terdoo said, ?I just want to go back to school like my mates. Anything the government can do, they should do it, I want my school fees to be paid so that I can go to school.

?Most times, we go to school hungry. Some children who were bringing food to school in the past stopped and when you ask them they say there is no food in the house. We want government to reduce the prices of food stuffs so that with small money we can have food at home,? she said.

Michelle Doose, a 12 year old JSS 11 student of St Dominic High School Makurdi, called on the government to do all they can to ensure that every child of school age is put in school irrespective of their family financial status.

She said, ?I want the government to build more schools and allow children to go to school for free. They should also provide children with learning materials.

?For the health sector, they should allow hospitals to take care of children free of charge. Many children skip classes due to illness and they don?t have money to go to the hospital, many are in IDP camps. The government should build better homes for them and give the parents resources that would sustain their families.

?One day one of my mates fainted in school and when we asked her, she said she was hungry. Many come to school without eating food. Government should reduce price of food stuffs so that parents can buy food and feed their children well,? she appealed.

A 15-year-old SS111 student of Faith Secondary School, Makurdi, Jeremiah Baaki, urged the government to upgrade school infrastructure and provide basic learning materials for better school learning environment.

He also urged the Federal Government in particular to tackle insecurity in Benue State as he lamented that most of their brothers and sisters in the communities have left school as a result of attacks and killings.

He also lamented that most children come to school sick and hungry and some skip classes due to those conditions. ?Government can offer free treatment to children of certain age limits, they can also intensify the school feeding programme and also extend it to private schools because children in public and private schools are all Nigerian children. This will up school attendance and ensure that they stay fit and happy while in school.?

Covenant Apanaje Dogoh, a nine-year-old pupil of St. Augustine Royal Academy, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, appealed to the government to fulfill the promises it made to the children in previous children?s day.

For this year?s celebration, she demanded that government should focus more attention and investment on the provision of financial support to children from poor families, reduction of out-of-school children as well as enrollment of girls in secondary schools.

She also asked the government to make adequate and appropriate immunization for children, provide access to adequate nutrition as well as provision of access to potable water, sanitation and good hygiene facilities in schools to minimize the risk of waterborne diseases.

To address the problem of high cost of food items, Dogoh suggested that the government increase investment in local food production through the provision of agricultural support to farmers and also address the problem of local transportation.

Regarding the essence of the children?s day, she said, ?Yes, government knows the essence of celebrating children?s day. Sadly, the government is not doing enough in terms of achieving its main objective which includes but not limited to prioritizing and protection of the rights and well-being of children, and promotion of awareness concerning children?s needs and challenges particularly of the less privileged.?

Similarly, Joshua Nasara Felicia, a 12 years old student of Baybos Home School, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, frowned at the inability of government to reduce the number of out-of-school children and enhance technical and vocational education training.

He challenged the government to provide good quality healthcare services that are accessible and affordable to all who need them, and ?also work on how they could reduce the price of food starting by encouraging local food production.

Similarly, Joshua Ebema Patricia, a 10 years old student of Baybos Home School, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, urged the government to use the occasion of 2025 Children?s Day to champion new course for the children.

She said: ?Government should improve quality of education, and provide good atmosphere for learners to study, and in addition to that, suggested an improved health insurance policy for the children.?

Regarding the issue of food production and security, the pupil asked the government to provide safe working environment for farmers by first bringing solution to the prolonged farmers/herders crisis that had resulted in the loss of several lives as well as destruction of properties.

Nwakaudu Chinedu, a 15-year-old student of Bennystar College, Markudi, said, ?as Children?s Day is being celebrated across Nigeria, it?s not just about fun and dancing, children are also sharing their thoughts on the issues that affect their lives the most.

?The government should help fix schools that are broken. Many classrooms don?t have roofs, windows, or even enough chairs. Some pupils sit on the floor to learn. They should provide free books and school uniforms too because some parents can?t afford them. Teachers also need to be paid well so they can teach with joy and commitment.

?Government should also give us computers and good libraries, so we can learn like children in other developed countries,? she said.

Nwakaudu also pleaded with the government to improve the healthcare needs of the people, particularly children. ?Hospitals should be closer to where we live and should treat children for free.

?Sadly, many children die from sicknesses like malaria, cough, and diarrhea because their parents couldn?t pay hospital bills. The government should give free medicine for children and vaccines to keep us healthy. Clean water and toilets are also important so we don?t fall sick all the time. Health is life, and children need to be healthy to go to school and play.

?In conclusion, government should know that Nigerian children are not just asking for gifts and parades. They want real change. They want better schools, good health, food to eat, and a government that truly values them. As we celebrate, may their voices be heard louder than ever,? she said.

Ohagwa Chibuzor, an SS1 student of Command Day Secondary School, Oshodi, Lagos expressed her concern about the education of children advised the government to consider the children on the streets who have no means of acquiring formal education and are willing to learn, be offered free education.

Chibuzor argued that schoolteachers be paid their salaries and regularly to enable them be motivated to teach the students and do their work properly.

She called for an improvement of health facilities in the rural parts of the country children will not find it difficult to get to good hospitals.

According to her, the government should provide steady electricity to help to read their books do homework.

Pleasant Orji, an SS1 student of Anointed Kids School, Ago Palace way, Okota, Lagos, also shared her wish list for the children?s day.

She urged that the government to provide updated textbooks, technologies, and conducive learning environments in schools and make sure that every child would be able to afford quality education, including transportation.

Ohagwa advised the government to increase teachers? salaries and benefits, so that they can focus on teaching them.

??The government should also provide affordable or free healthcare and checkup services reduce high cost.??

The pupil tasked the government to provide steady electricity for both students and teachers to boost learning and for teachers in their homes to enable them prepare ahead.

Femi-Adedeji Nicole, an SS111 student of JNISSI Schools, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos, wants the government to on children?s education and make schools have updated reading materials for students.

Another student, Adebayo Akorede, an SS1 student of Jeed Trinity School, Okota, Lagos, appealed to the government focuses on the educational needs of children and ensure they attend school irrespective of their financial status.

He urged the government to understand the importance of celebrating children?s day by holding events like spelling bee competitions and talks on careers to help the children feel appreciated.

Some students and pupils in Abia State have poured out their minds on what they want government to do for them as it concerns education, health, food and insecurity.

Eberechukwu Okechukwu, 17, is an SS3 student of Government College, Umuahia, Abia State. She wants the government to focus on technical education as to enable students to learn some skills while in school to make them to be self-employed when they finish their education.

Eberechukwu advised government to make healthcare free and affordable for students of the poor in the society. This is equally as she wants the government to ensure prices of food stuff are low so that students in boarding schools and elsewhere will feed well.

Like Eberechukwu, Helen, 17, also an SS3 of the same school would equally want government to focus on vocational education as to make students not only to be self-employed when they are through with school, but to be also employers of labour.

Bemoaning the high cost of food stuff in the country, Helen advised the government to do all within its powers to bring down the high cost of food stuff.

Emmanuel Odinaka, 11, a Basic 5 pupil of Brain Gate Academy, Umuahia. He wants government to focus on building standard schools and recruitment of qualified teachers, to discourage parents from taking their children to private schools.

Odinaka was of the view that government should make pupil receive drugs free at designated hospitals and at the same time reduce the high cost of foodstuff.

Ifeanyi Chukwu, 10, is in Basic 4 at the same Brain Gate Academy. He wants government to focus on enhancing indigenous languages in schools and de-emphasize much on English Language. He appealed to government to bring down the cost of foodstuff in the country (Daily Sun)

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