THE FARMER AND THE SEEDLING; THE NATION AND THE CHILD
MAY 27TH, 2016
INITIATIVE FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.



As far as farming id concerned, the seed/seedling is indispensable. The farmer aims for bountiful harvest which of course he can only get with the right seedling. To this end, knowing fully well that his output of produce depends on his input of seedlings, the farmer takes extreme care to see that the seedling is nurtured in the correct soil environment so that when planted and grows into maturity, that seed yields output in multitudes.

The farmer-seedling scenario is the same as that of the Nation-Child. The prospects, successes and the entire future of a nation depends on the child and its population of young people. The Nation’s constituted authorities, governance system, production, social institutions, civil life and sustainability are carried into successive generations by successive children who grow to replace worn-out, aged and old people.

The future productivities of the nation also depend on the current state of the child. For this, just as the right seedling gives the farmer bountiful harvest so does the properly nurtured child improve and sustain the growth and development of the nation.



But the seedlings are not always free from pest…
.
Because the farmer understands that the seedlings must be kept clean from pests otherwise he has nothing to plant; for this reason he takes measures to treat and nurture the seedlings into healthy plants. The TOMATO scenario in Nigeria today will better help us get the import.
This also plays out for the nation and the child. The African/Nigerian child today is faced with both domestic and external threats that have made them an endangered species. These threats include


Child/infant mortality: where thousands of children die before their 5th birthday anniversary due to absence of or improper medi-care.


Poor parental attention: in most contemporary families, children do not get to see their father and or mother for up to 3 days a week on a monthly average. They are deprived of that bonding that draws them from threading wrong paths.

Child labour: many children especially of the orphaned and less privileged homes are left at the mercy of careless households who have converted them into commodities and ‘beasts of burden’. They are forced to do hard chores that are beyond their physical capacities, sent into the wild streets to hawk goods exposing them to rapists and ritual mongers.

Gender bias: this very one plays out more as an offshoot of cultural inclinations and practices where one gender (male) is revealed strictly preferred to the other (female) as a result of which there is disparity in the quantity and quality of care given to them.
These imply that the child is neither safe at home nor in the streets.

Actions required of government and the domestic households.


The future generation is unsure and insecure as long as these threats continue to exist. The government and the households owe it as an obligation to protect the child and insure the future of this nation.


It has been observed that government performs to average in policy formulation but very poor in terms of implementation.
We therefore, as concerned individuals and stakeholders through our organized body (INITIATIVE FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT) call on the government and the domestic households on this day of our children day celebration to rise up to the rescue of the Nigerian child. We implore the government to revisit existing laws and policy on child safety and growth as a matter of national urgency put them into action; or create them where none exists.


These laws and policies should aim at large investments into the education of the child to accommodate the millions of out-of-school children in Nigeria. It should also incorporate values reorientation aimed at fighting gender bias and promote equality. In addition, it should prescribe and provide enforcement mechanism for stringent punitive measures for rapists, child traffickers, and other threats to child life.


The households are not left out, parents should ensure to spend quality times with their children as the basic and primary training ground for the child.
Civil society organizations also have a role to play by executing action plans that direct attention and create more awareness on child right.



Our lovely children and young people, we love you and will always do our best to make sure you are protected. Happy children day celebration to you from all of us at IYD



written by me......

moderators, please move to appropriate section and give this article wider publicity by taking it to frontpage..........lalasticala please.