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ADEOLA [ Profil ] |
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UNITE TO SAVE AFRICAN CHILDREN, BY ADEOLA OGUNLADE
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May 8th, 2009 - 18:52:55 |
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Congratulation to you all my fellow advocate on the occasion of this new month, I apologise to all for not sending in my articles for quite sometime now. I am back and promise to serve you better this time. I wish you all the best as we continue in our advocacy to salvage Africa from its seething travails.
This piece is a prelude to the forthcoming World Children Day on May 27th – a day set aside to across the world to celebrate the values and virtues of children. A day to appraise the various interventions geared towards building and nurturing them to become responsible adults; and also to brainstorm on the best framework that is needed to address the various challenges facing children the world over.
However, it is pertinent to note that children in most African countries are said to be enmeshed in all manner of unpleasant situations such as; child mortality, labour, prostitution, molestation, trafficking, street trading, neglect and abandonment all because they are vulnerable, defenceless, innocent, harmless and dependent on adults for survival.
Recently, I went to one of the Pentecostal churches in Lekki, Lagos, South West, Nigeria, there, a child was brought to the altar for prayers and dedication to the lord. But before the pastor prayed for the child, he said “this child is a child of destiny and I know he will go far in life. Children are the heritage of God, they are a source of joy and happiness, and they represent the beginning of the future in any society. Thereafter, he prayed for the child and the congregation danced and rendered songs of joy for the new born. While revelling in joy, I remembered what an old man, known as Mr Monday Jacob Udoh once said “children are once seen as bundles of joy but it is saddening to note that they are now seen as outcast in the same society”.
Ironically, the society, I mean the older generation hopes and entrusts the younger generation to help build our nascent democratic process to an enviable model among the comity of nations in the near future. But ironically, it is the same older generation that use the younger generation to unleash violent in elections; an example of that is in (Ekiti State) South Western, Nigeria.
It is the same generation that subconsciously hopes and prays for an end to various ethno-religious crises which has left trails woe, pandemonium and the destruction of lives and properties in the continent. It is also saddening to note that it is the same children, most of who are as young as seven that are being instructed to kill and destroy fellow human beings like them all in the name of religion.
Therefore, as the annual World Children Day Celebrations beckons, it is obvious that billions of dollars will be spent by Government agencies, international donors, corporate organisations, Non Governmental Organisations, civil society Groups and School on rallies, parades, parties, conferences, workshops, distribution of IEC materials; such as fliers, handbills, posters, caps and tee-shirt, which has become a boring routine that has not addressed the growing need of children across the continent who are in need.
Thus, It is important to note that what our children are asking for, from the city of Soweto in South Africa to Nuba Village in Sudan, from North Africa to the Massaic village in Kenya, East Africa and the Town of Aburi in Ghana, West Africa are answers to their basic needs as that alone can give them hope for a brighter future, live in Africa and give all it takes to make Africa a toast for the world to see.
What is needed now is to coordinate ourselves as stakeholders either in government, private sector, international agents and donor agencies, CSO’s and CBO’s in the bid to meet the growing needs of the children. They want a poverty-free society, to go to schools, good health-care system, acquire more skills that can aid self-employment at their tender ages and better social services, among others.
I believe we can, if we all pull our efforts together to help a give meaning to many children who wake up with dreams and aspirations and are in dire need of a helping hand.
Let us chorus this message to every city your homes, streets, market places, motor parks, churches, mosques, town halls.
News
As the International Children Day draws near, a community Youth development Initiative, Youth Advocate for Change has concluded arrangements to stage a two week debate competition, among secondary schools in Akute/Ajuwon, Ifo Local Government, Ogun State, Nigeria. The theme of the competition is “media message on HIV/AIDS, helpful or harmful to children”. The organizers hope that the initiative will help young people in the community as participating partners unite in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Their views and contributions will also form part of inputs to scores of teens when the new school club (Teens against Aids Club), kick starts come September.
for more inquires, support and partnership, please call, 08083127847,mail godslovever (at) yahooo.com.
Adeola Ogunlade
Co-ordinator
Youth Advocate for Change (YAC)
08083127847
godslovever (at) yahoo.com
youthadvocate-adeola.blogspot.com
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