Jonathan promises better days for children

The president pledges to initiate reforms that would enhance the development of the Nigerian child
ARTICLE | MAY 28, 2011 - 4:34AM | BY CHIDI OKOYE

President Goodluck Jonathan, on Friday in Abuja, reiterated federal government's commitment to institute necessary reforms that would better the lives of Nigerian children.

In an address at the 2011 Children’s Day Celebration, the president, represented by the FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed, said the administration would improve its investment in Nigerian children to guarantee the country's future.

He said government would institute necessary reforms that would make it accountable, tackle disparities and wage war against malaria as well as the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

“We will also try to secure gender equality and reduce violence in our society, through adequate security arrangements,” he said. “We will build on the virtues of love and respect for one another, pursue unity, promote and reward hard work, with no room for indolence.”

Jonathan stressed the need for Nigerian children to be able to access good and quality education as well as enjoy good healthcare.

He urged Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the creation of a Nigeria that was fit for all, most especially the children; “a Nigeria in which all children are given love, care and the nurturing required to make a good start in life”.

The president pledged that his administration would provide necessary opportunities and enabling environment for children to develop their potential that would enable them to grow into responsible and productive adults.

“This is the kind of Nigeria that our children deserve; and this is the kind of social system that we owe it a duty to provide to the people,” he said.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Josephine Anenih, had earlier said that this year’s Children’s Day was a special one, because it coincided with the inauguration of Jonathan to lead the country for the next four years. She appreciated the wonderful foundation laid by the president to enable the children to realise their potential.

The FCT Minister, who was supported at the occasion by the Mayor of Dallas, U.S.A, Dwayne Caraway, gave out scholarship awards to five Nigerian children for one week training in U.S.A.

The children are from Regina Pacis College, Al-Rahman School, School for the Deaf, Government Secondary  School, Area 11, and Tintsel International School, Abuja. 


I would suggest that the president starts a program that gives children free healthcare until they are 10 years old. Open stations ( something like a soup kitchen) where people can go and eat for free including children because a lot of children are malnourished and when they grow up, they would become stunted ( meaning they are too short for their age). Start a program that helps children that are very good at math and science so that when they go to different countries for competitions we would have a chance in winning first place. Make sure children know how to operate a computer before they graduate from primary school because even university graduates don't even know how to turn on a computer. And provide free education for children until they are 18 so that parents can stop sending their children to "relatives" that will abuse them. Make sure that all schools have guidance counselors that would be able to help the children during tough times because a lot of children go through psychological trauma. Thats just my suggestion you can add more if you like.