By Justina Auta
Some street children on Monday appealed to the Federal government and other stakeholders to ensure equality, social inclusion and improve access to essential services for their self-development.
The children made the call during a symposium organised by an NGO, Young Ambassadors Against Drug Initiative (YAADAI) in commemoration of the 2021 International Street Children Day in Abuja.
The day is marked globally every April 12 to enable street children and their champions speak on their rights and has “Mental Health, Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), Right Expression and Social Inclusion” as its theme for 2021.
Ibrahim Mohammed, a 10-year-old boy, said he lost his father some years ago, which forced him to venture into pure water business to support his mother to carter for the needs of his siblings.
Mohammed said he relied on the streets for survival and sustenance, thereby appealing to government to assist him and other children like him to gain access to formal education and alternative income source to enable them to become responsible citizens.
Similarly, a 15-year-old orphan, Hamza Ibrahim, said he and his younger siblings live in a make-shift hut on the street of Dei-dei in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
According to him, he earns a living by shepherding goats to abattoir on daily basis to generate money to feed his younger siblings.
He said having access to services, resources, care and opportunities would enable them integrate well in the society and have legitimate means of earning income free from crime.
Hajiya Zainab Khalil, the National Coordinator, YAADAI, said the essence of the symposium was to bring to the fore the challenges of street children and proffer solutions.
Khalil said the rights of street children were being violated and ignored by relevant authorities.
She added that “the rights of street children are being violated; there should be equality and access to so many things that every child enjoys as the children on the street are also human beings.”
According to her, the programme “Street Children’’ aired on Radio Nigeria is a concept of YAADAI, which brings children and other stakeholders to discuss on issues affecting them and proffer solutions to it.
She revealed that through the programme, some street children were rehabilitated and provided with homes, while those guilty of sexually molesting children were prosecuted.
The Director-General, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Dr Mansur Liman, listed the effects of having street children to increased crime rates, drug and substance abuse and other vices.
He said “we have realised that the more children we have on the streets, the more problems we have.
“The consequences of having children on the streets are many as they are prone to abuse, crime, drug addiction and vices.”
Liman, who was represented by the Director, Programmes, Msurshima Kighir, said FRCN was committed to addressing the plights of women and children, hence the introduction of the “Street Children’’ programme aired on its national network.
Dr Femi Ajayi, the National Project Officer, Law Enforcement, UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), attributed the increasing cases of drug abuse, terrorism, banditry and others to the number of children neglected.
Ajayi, therefore, stressed the need for government to put more efforts in curtailing the situation by implementing policies that would eliminate street children and provide them access to education and basic amenities.
Ms Sharon Oladiyi, the Child Protection Specialist, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said street children were vulnerable and exposed to sexual violence, decreased livelihood and excluded from development frameworks.
Oladiyi, therefore, urged stakeholders to intensify advocacy and response to eliminating street children and increase access to essential services.
Also, Josephine Christopher, representative of Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), stressed the need to improve the social well-being of children for the country to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, said the ministry was working toward ensuring the passage and implementation of the Child Rights Acts in all states.
Tallen, who was represented by an Assistant Director, Child Development, Mr Ali Andrew-Magudu, said a technical working group had been inaugurated to upgrade the alternative care system to complement the services of foster homes and orphanages.
She also said that government had put in place strategies to ensure that children were off the streets and have access to quality education.
NAN
