Joel Ajayi
Director General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps,Rt.Hon.Yusuf Buba Yakub,has called on parents across the country to take advantage of all the laudable initiatives the Tinubu Administration has put in place to ensure that their children grow outside violence, bullying and neglect.
He also congratulated Nigerian children on the celebration of this year’s National Children’s Day.
In a message personally signed by the NTAC boss and made available to his media handlers in Abuja, Tuesday,the former federal lawmaker described children as the sustainers of the future and custodians of hope of a better tomorrow.
He said it was God’s ultimate plan to perpetuate man and his kind by bringing children to succeed their forebears,ensuring,as it were,that every generation is an improvement upon the generation it succeeds and re-iterated his call on parents to treat children well in order to evolve a better future for mankind.
While speaking to the theme of this year’s celebration:”Stand Up Speak Up: Building a Bully-Free Generation”,Buba said the theme sets a role for every parent, teacher,leader, lawmaker and citizen to be a watchdog on issues concerning the child.He pointed out that every society has a way of reaping what it sows and that a neglected or bullied child may likely give back to society what they received growing up.
He thanked the Tinubu Administration for the high and justified premium that has been placed on the building and development of the Nigerian child, expressing optimism that no kobo expended on policies and programmes of government to give a sound footing to the future of the Nigerian child will go without positive results.
“I have a conviction that the current Administration,with what is encapsulated in Mr.President’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative, possesses the capacity and capabilities to turn things around for the better for the Nigerian child.
“Today,with the comprehensive review of the Child Rights Act(2003),which has been domesticated by all the 36 States of the Federation and FCT, already in progress,it is just a matter of time before we begin to witness more deeply the impacts of Mr.President’s various initiatives for the Nigerian child,” the NTAC boss emphasized.
Rt.Hon.Buba,who also pointed at the efforts of the current Administration to expand the scope of various laws seeking to protect, strengthen implementation strategies and ensuring nationwide enforcement in favour of the Nigerian child,also lauded the Nigeria’s National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children (2024-2030) recently launched by President Tinubu as a step in the right direction.
He said when fully in place,the plan,which is known to provide a comprehensive roadmap to prevent abuse, prosecute perpetrators and support victims of abuse, will instil in Nigerians across the country a culture where every Nigerian child feels safe, respected and heard.
The NTAC DG ended by thanking the Federal Government for other initiatives for the Nigerian child in the areas of security ,health, education, including the Nutrition 774 Programme and the School Feeding Scheme,and their general well-being, identifying the vigilance and support of the community as being key to the success or otherwise of the various programmes and initiatives in our communities.
