The African Child continues to live in an intensely challenging environment.
On a day like this the least we can do is reflect on how we view children around us with an aim of making better discisions. What value to you place on them, how do you relate with them, how do you view and take care of their needs?
In our country, the needs of children continue to go uncatered for. As though children begged to be brought into this world, they tend to be treated as a troubling resource consuming entity. You know, like an annoying itch!!
We pay lip service to loving them, but more often than not, we use them simply as a crutch to support our weak egos and seared consciences.
The call for the rights of children has always rang out especially with the enactment of the Child's right act in 2003 but where have we gone since then? Children still hawk during school hours, children still go hungry even in our cities, children are stil being used as begging assistants, children are still being excluded from basic school, children still lack adequate clothing and shelther both at home and in school.
Even the church, who should be the epitome of societal ideals, falls flat on its face in this regard! Building fantastic worship domes that have no space for its children, conducting services that have no relevance to the children. Of course lip service is still paid... especially on children's day... but, how many parents will be happy to have their own service conducted in the spaces made out for their children. How many parents take time to share their faith with their children (if its really so important)?
Children have feelings exactly like yours. They know when they are being catered for. They know when they are important in the scheme of things and believe it or not, they are forming their world view gradually from each and every experience.
Children today are the adults of tomorrow! We owe them every responsibility to grow up in a secure and enabling environment!!
Today is the Day of the African Child! What will you do to make lie better for them? What will you do to make them to be seen and heard?
-Adelakun-Adeyemo Oluwatoyin
