“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” These were the words of Late Nelson Mandela when he launched the Children’s Fund in South Africa in May 1995.
And these words resonate with the situation of children in Nigeria today considering the variety of abuse that children are subjected to in today’s society. Child abuse refers to any act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm and sexual abuse or exploitation of the child. And in Nigeria, abuse against children is rampant and largely under-reported due to cultural justification of certain forms of abuse associated with cultural practices and the reluctance of children to speak about prior abusive experiences.
This is in spite of the provisions of The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child of 1999 which states that children must be protected from all forms of torture, inhuman, or degrading treatment, physical, mental or sexual abuse, and neglect or maltreatment and the Child Rights Act of 2003 which provides that children must be protected from: child marriage; child betrothal; tattoos and skin marks; exposure and use of narcotic drugs; abduction, removal or transfer of the child from lawful custody, and; child labour and unlawful sexual intercourse.
Child abuse in Nigeria negatively affects the future of children and destroys the image of the country. And the realisation that the menace of child abuse and its resultant effects on children in Nigeria can only be resolved through a combination of efforts by the government and other relevant stakeholders in order to revamp is why many nongovernmental bodies have taken up the responsibility to fight against abuse.
And this is why organisations like the Child Protection Network continue to work towards eradication of child abuse in Nigeria. Part of this effort is a recent sensitisation and training exercise where the Oyo State Coordinator of Child Protection Network, Dr. RoseMary Odigbo, urged parents and community members to increase efforts in securing their children from physical and emotional abuse.
Dr. Odigbo, who gave the advice at the sensitisation meeting with residents of Akinyele Local Government, the Community Child Protection Committee (CCPC), the Children and Youth (C&Y) Parliament Council and other relevant stakeholders, urged the government to intensify awareness of child protection and family planning, enforce rigorous punishment for offenders, and increase the financial capacity of Nigerians to curb the rising cases of child abuse in the nation.
Similarly, the Executive Director of Choice Solution Welfare Initiative International, Dr. Kemi Ademola-Aremu, who is also a facilitator at the training, emphasised that parents and guardians should recognize challenges in children and manage these issues to prevent inadvertent abuse of children. She stressed that every disability can be overcome with effective support.
In the same vein, the Oyo State coordinator of Association against Trafficking in Persons, Child Abuse and Labour, Mr. Gbola Omotosho, informed the public to financially and emotionally prepare for procreation before marriage to prevent unbalanced child care. He advised parents to have a proper family plan as improper plans open the child to health issues and societal hazards.
While speaking, the legal adviser for the Child Protection Network for Oyo State, Barrister Oluwaseun Folajuwon-Banjo, implored community leaders to report cases of abuse against children. She also urged the agencies responsible for child abuse to ensure proper record-keeping and reporting of cases to enhance the prosecution of offenders. Additionally, she enjoined leaders in different areas to consistently report cases of abuse to reduce the menace in society.
The leader of the Ajibode Oke-Ona community, Chief Akinsanmi Sunday, and other community leaders appreciated the Oyo State Government, the Child Protection Network and SOS Children’s Village for the sensitization, noting that the acquired knowledge will enhance the safety of children in society. They implored the government to create more awareness and provide additional financial support to public and non-governmental organisations so as to ensure the total eradication of child abuse in Nigeria.
READ ALSO: UPDATED: Two more govs ready to pay N70,000 new minimum wage
