Coordinator,CPN Adedamola Charges FG To Meet The Challenges Facing Children In Nigeria

The federal and state governments have been urged to intensify efforts in tackling the insecurities surrounding children rather than concentrating on building roads and bridges.

The Ogun State Coordinator, Child Protection Network, CPN, Adedamola Lapite, speaking in Abeokuta on Tuesday, in an outreach organized for children in slums, as part of activities marking International Children’s Day, said, building bridges or roads is not all it takes for the development and growth of children.

In 2023, an estimated 700,000 children of school age were reported to be out of school, in Ogun State, according to data by the Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Femi Majekodunmi.

Since 2023, Ogun State has achieved a level of growth most focused on infrastructure development, considering the governor’s list of achievements

However, Lapita, noting that children would have better lives when the government prioritises their future, harped on the need for policies that centre on children’s development and education in the state.

He called for joint effort in tackling the menace facing Nigerian children, warning that abuse against children must be put in check.

“We need to let them know that they are loved and the world is available for them to conquer. It is to encourage them and help them know that they can achieve whatever they put their mind to.

“ Some of the challenges facing Nigeria children revolve around abuse, any form of abuse you can imagine, physical, emotional, sexual abuses and recently because of violence around we’ve had a lot of situations of out of school children, poverty is a huge challenge children have which it encourages the out of school children. And lastly, you know about all this violence especially in the North and recently some parts of the South where children are abducted from school

“ The way out is for every one of us to realize that we are all supposed to protect the children. The children should be the centre of all the policies of the government.

“ Whatever policies you are making, whether you are constructing roads, building bridges building all sorts, if the children are not there who is going to come up to live, to enjoy these things we need to realize that in everything we do, we must protect the children without the children your destination has no future,” he said.