2021 Day of the African child: NGO insists on quality education for children

A Non-governmental organisation, Project Hope Alive (PHA) has called on governments across Africa continent to be committed to the provision of quality education for children in order to position them for their greater future.

Chairman of the Board of Peoject Hope Alive, Ambassador Chibuzor Okereke spoke at the backdrop of the ‘2021 Day of the African Child’ celebration which took place at the LEA primary school, Aleyita, along Airport road in Abuja Municipal Area Council, on Wednesday.

He said, much attention should be given to children, given that they are the power and future of the continent, noting that the present security challenges in Nigeria and indeed other African countries that have rendered some homeless and orphans should not be enough reason to deny them the right to education.

“Today is a special day because we are celebrating the power of Africa, the future of Africa which is our children as we all know, our children are the future of Nigeria and indeed Africa.

“As we all know, the country is passing through trial situations, despite that we need to inspire our children for the brighter future.

“The current situation has made many of them orphans and the organisation took it upon itself to bring hope to Nigeria and African children. It is also need to recognise that the organisation is providing opportunity to our children to utilise skill acquired through learning.

“One of the key agenda is to provide quality education for our children. The Project Hope Alive is committed to making our children to acquire education needed and the evidence is the provision of educational materials provided by the partners.”

Chibuzor urged governments to protect the children and ensure enforcement of their rights, while lamented that Nigeria government was not doing enough to protect the children.

He faulted Nigerian government statistics that show 13.5 million out of school children without showing the total number of children in Nigeria, noting that it would be difficult for government to have a working plan for the children without knowing their number.

“Therefore we are using this opportunity to call on government, NGOs, parents and well-to-do Nigerians to come to the aid of African child.

“Our governments need to put in place institutional frame work to properly take care of our children.

On his assessment of Nigeria government’s effort at improving the lives of children, Okereke said, the government has failed woefully in planning for Nigerian children, noting that Child Rights Act was only domesticated by 26 States out of 36 including the Federal Capital Territory.

The NGO featured some resource persons who spoke on this year’s theme: “Building Africa fit for Children.”

The celebration was marked with cultural dance, quiz competition by the school children, while educational materials and scholarships were offered to them as well.