MUSINGS OF A TROUBLED HEART

In every nation of the world, there is a place for children and youths. Even the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) recognizes the place of children and makes it the fourth focal point “To reduce child mortality”.

     Believe it or not, children are the future of the world and we will gain or pay for whatever we do to them.

I remember when I was much younger (a child- though to my parents, I still am), everybody wanted to protect me/us from growing up too fast, hurts and the world, now I wonder when it became right for us to :

-          Abuse the fundamental rights of children

-          Abuse the child physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and most especially SEXUALLY

-          Deprive the child of necessary structures, policies, infrastructures to build their potentials

-          Bombard the child with negativism and sensitive social dilemmas

-          Entangle the child in adult misunderstandings

-          Expose the child to the ever increasing commotion of the world  and the turbulence ahead

-          Pass the wrong messages across

-          Reverse roles

-          Uncontrolled poverty

-          Brutality of some parents

-          Discrimination

“The Nigerian child suffers a combination of afflictions ranging from persistent socio cultural brutality, educational deprivations and class contradictions to poverty, jeopardized health and malnutrition, over exposure to hard labor and negative influences of the mass media.

Most ethnographic literature shows that Nigerians cherish children a lot, and desire to have some. In fact motherhood and fatherhood are regarded as the highest attainable success in life more than any measure of material wealth. However, the Nigerian child has remained largely exposed to hard labor and abandonment, in spite of the love of parents. Child labor and abuse are perhaps the most paramount of the afflictions suffered by the Nigerian Children”. (Yakubu Ozohu-Suleiman)

It is our duty to “protect the child against abuse and harmful practices”.

In the daily hustle and bustle of life, I hope you find a tiny bit of time to spare to make this world a better place for children, generations unborn.

I hope you be a refuge from the storm, a haven of hope- NOTHING YOU DO FOR A CHILD IS EVER WASTED