Director-General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Julie Okah-Donli, has called on parents and guardians to invest more in education of their children in order to create a better tomorrow for them.
She said that real investments in the development of Nigerian children remained the panacea to peace and prosperity of Nigeria as a nation.
Okah-Donli spoke in Abuja at an interactive session with children during an event to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebration.
She said that since children of today represent the future of the nation, no amount of investment made on them was a waste.
She explained that while government at all levels work hard to improve on various sectors of the economy, concerted efforts must be made to ensure that the children were properly cared for through huge investments in their health care, education, protection and general wellbeing.
She, however, commended the Federal Government for its schools programmes, especially the School Feeding Programme for Children. This, she said, would go a long way in keeping children in school.
Speaking further, the DG, who is a legal practitioner, stated that it was the responsibility of parents, communities and states to protect children from criminals who lurk around, seeking whom to abuse and destroy.
“You belong to your parents, your community and the nation. Leaders of all these groups, therefore, owe you the responsibility of protecting you from the criminals who want to destroy your lives.
“For us at NAPTIP, with our renewed commitment, strength and strategies, no one will be allowed to abuse you and go away with it. No one is permitted to touch you in any abusive manner or take any action capable of stunting your growth and development.
“The Trafficking in Persons Act 2015 and the Violence against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 protect your rights and we at NAPTIP will ensure that we protect you within these laws,” Okah-Donli stated.
She used the opportunity to urge states that were yet to domesticate the Child’s Rights Act to urgently do so, and those who had domesticated it to implement it.
While urging the children to always report cases of abuse, she also urged law enforcement agencies and their operatives to give listening ears to children whenever they approached them.
This, she said, would give the children a sense of belonging and more confidence in speaking out against evil plans of criminals, and would also give them the hope of a brighter and better future in Nigeria.
The event saw children from various schools in the Federal Capital Territory displaying their potentials, in poetry, drama, singing and dancing.
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