The officially recognized date of children’s day varies from one country to another. Children’s day is a day set aside to honour and protect the interest/welfare of children. This day is not simply to celebrate children for who they are, but to bring awareness to children around the globe that have succumbed to violence such as abuse, exploitation and discrimination. The day is celebrated in Nigeria on 27 May.


It is very unfortunate to note that in most countries of the world, most especially Nigeria, we as a society have failed on many occasions to protect children’s wellbeing through negligence, insensitivity and other vices. A lot of young ones had suffered violence and many are still suffering abuses, occasioned by our incompetency.



What can we say about sexual violation of minors by their “supposed trusted” friends and family members. How can we explain uncles, aunts, teachers etc, taking advantage of young ones. Fathers now find pleasure in defiling their own biological daughters. What are we teaching these adult in making by all these acts of sexual violence.

Domestic violence is another evil monster bewitching young at heart. Children who are precious gifts from God, are most times treated as an object of abuse in some homes, all in the name of punishment for wrong doing. Although correction is an essential component of child upbringing. The holy book even enjoys us to train our children and that we should not spare the rod. But there is a clear distinction between correction with love and punishment. Many minors have been disabled as a result of physical assaults.


Also, some parents and guardians do coerce their children in to risky ventures (I.e hawking househelp, prostitution etc), solely for financial gains. Some children have been lured by wicked ones while hawking, some have been physically violated in their madam's house while serving as househelp , and for those coerced into prostitution, some of them have been infected with terminal diseases.

Forceful abduction and child marriage also calls for concern. Eze's case brought to limelight the stories of minors who where forcefully or otherwise abducted without their parents’ consent, and in some cases, such minors may be converted to another religion. Also, a lot of children were forced in to child marriage even by their parents and guardians for monetary gain or any other reason(s). This is contrary to the right of a child.

Majority of victims of terrorism are women and children. Many of our minors are in the net of insurgents, some of them have been forced into child marriage while some are kept as domestic slaves. Abduction of Chibok girls and others are still fresh in our memory. Violation of  children for ritual purpose is another form of child abuse that needed to be curtailed. Emotional violence is a topic for another day.

The government and our parents are partly to be blamed for most of these abuses against children. Government should as much as possible ensure security of every child and protect the interest of every child  through legislation and appropriate implemented of such legislation. 

On the other hand, parents and guardians should be commended for their care over our children, but much is still needed to be done to safeguard the children from every forms of abuse and violations. Parents should be their children’s best friends, and as much as possible, parents should try to meet the needs of their children. Don’t entrust your child in the hand of people you don't trust.

Happy Children’s Day!



http://www.olamilite.com/2016/05/beyond-childrens-day-celebration.html