On this premise, the Women and Children Initiatives Department of Justice, Development and Peace Movement (JDPM), Catholic Diocese of Oyo, through the support of Kindermission-werk, facilitated the celebration for pupils of 80 Basic Schools across 10 local governments; Afijio, Atiba, Atisbo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Oyo East, Oyo West and Ogbomoso South in 2018. In Kajola, Itesiwaju and Oyo West local government areas, schools were celebrated at a common venue while others schools organised within their school environment for convenience and security of the pupils.
Local government Education Secretaries, traditional, religious and opinion leaders, representatives of women groups, parents, guardians, teachers, pupils and child rights’ volunteers graced the occasions across the different venues of the celebrations.
In his welcome address at the occasions, the Director of Child Rights and Welfare Education project, Mr Dominic Taiwo, emphasised that children are people like any other human being; and they are entitled to human rights to enable them live in dignity. Children cannot ensure their own welfare and survival except with the support of adults. The grown up people must provide, protect, guide, love, care and respect children. The care-givers, parents, guardians and governments must uphold rights of children for human benefit today and in the future. The adults were urged to take opinions of children into consideration when making decisions. The audience was urged to educate the children through good examples in responding to their needs, opinions and stories. He remarked that Children should be allowed to have a say in what affect them to build their confidence and self-esteem. He explained that adults should educate children on their rights and responsibilities. If children have better knowledge of their rights they will uphold their rights and respect rights of others. The Director also urged the parents and teachers to act in the best interest of the children by providing circumstances that promote and protect children’s rights, values and cultures to make the children develop to their full potentials. He appealed to adults to be good model to the children, help them to learn about their rights and responsibilities as they prepare to be responsible citizens.
Different activities carried out during the celebrations are talks on parental responsibilities in promoting and protecting child rights at homes. The pupils recited National Anthem, Oyo State Anthem and Child Rights Anthem in English and Yoruba. The pupils also recited poems that relates to child rights in English and Yoruba. Some pupils recited poems, staged short plays, and choreography, read news as child broadcaster, engaged in cultural dances and sang local songs that relate with child rights.
Pupils did all these to speak to the minds of the audience on their plights, rights and welfare. The display by pupils further promote awareness on child rights, highlight responsibilities of adults, particularly parents, guardians, grandparents and religious leaders. The activities of the day recognised the inter-link and mutual reinforcement between human rights, child rights and their indivisible core values in the society. The celebrations further ensure principles, coherent and consistent messages and actions in favour of child rights promotion and protection.
AlhajiAkande Yusuf, Pastor Ogunlade Timothy and Mrs Oladunni, G.O. spoke on parents’ responsibilities to the children at the celebrations. All the speakers emphasised that a child is a person under the age of eighteen while parents include biological and adoptive parents, guardians and protective grand-parents. The major parental responsibilities highlighted are: taking account of the child’s own evolving capacity; safeguarding and promoting the child’s health, education, development and welfare; registering a child’s birth; maintain relation with the child; religious up-bringing and schooling; application of the principle of best interests of a child in decision making; provision of a home—either directly or indirectly, good care, direction, guidance and control in a manner appropriate to the child’s age and understanding. The pupils were happy and filled with enthusiasms. They were excited to meet with pupils from other schools with whom they share experiences and make friends. It gladdens their hearts that they could address adults on their rights and plights. The audience were excited. They have better understanding of children’s rights and welfare, how children perceived those that abused them and their role as adults.
Stakeholders had opportunity to make comments at the different occasions. A woman from Ilero exclaimed; “This is a secret the government kept away from ignorant public for so long. It is an initiative that promotes good life and peace from the heart.” Mr Awoyemi, a retired school headmaster from Isemi-ile urged JDPM to increase the number of schools covered per local government to 10 based on the spread of the basic schools in relation to the immeasurable values of the project. He further enthused; “Try to make excursion part of the activities under the project so that pupils may learn from events and situations outside their communities.” The Chairman of Parents/Teachers Forum at Fiditi in Afijio local government said; “All that I have seen and heard from pupils here today goes beyond all telling. I have a good feeling that these pupils will grow and get matured better and they are really the pride of today and hope of better future. But more families must be made to know more about child rights and welfare.” Mr Ojediran Joseph, a supervisor of Basic schools in Kajola local government said, “Child Rights and Welfare Education project is an idea for this time when many children and teenagers are abused by elders with impunity in many places. The presentations of pupils are very educative, insightful and instructive enough. What they have said separately and jointly are clear signal that the project is a powerful initiative that has impact on the pupils. But it looks like a long journey that has just began because it is difficult to change bad attitudes. However, there is hope since pupils are involved in awareness creation. There should be no going back for those already involved in this project.
In Itesiwaju local government, the Education Secretary, Mr Adesina, G.A appreciated JDPM for their efforts in raising responsible pupils who will become responsible citizens in the nearest future. He promised his support for child rights and welfare education in his local government. Mr Afonja, M. O and Mr TundeOkediran from Education Ministry were part of the celebration. The chairman, Association of Primary School Head-teachers, Prince, J. I. Oladosu and his Secretary, Mr T. A. Idowu witnessed the occasion. Prince Oladosu said, “the pupils are refreshingly loving and friendly in presenting their case to government representatives, traditional leaders, religious leaders, teachers and parents at this occasion. This is a good example for elders to emulate. A traditional Chief in Itesiwaju local government, Chief Mudasiru Adigun, the Agoro of Iwoye-Otu urged JDPM to involve divorcees; single parents and widows in the implementation of the project for such people mostly abuse children. Evangelist AdedayoIdowu, Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kajola local government area, pleaded with JDPM to touch children living in the streets because their lives are fraught with series of dangers since they are exposed to regular physical assault, sexual abuse, and other forms of exploitation. He equally craved for action against forced child marriage and female genital mutilation. He finally said the child rights and welfare education will inter-link with the interventions in favour of the street children and education against genital mutilation to reinforce the integrity of the children in the nearest future.
Adedeji wrote from Ibadan
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