Thursday, February 2, 2023
No Result
View All Result
SUBSCRIBE
eNaira Online News
  • Home
  • eNaira
  • Capital Market
  • Business
  • Finance
  • Banking
  • PF
  • Companies
  • Crypto
  • Real Estates
  • Opinion
  • Home
  • eNaira
  • Capital Market
  • Business
  • Finance
  • Banking
  • PF
  • Companies
  • Crypto
  • Real Estates
  • Opinion
eNaira Online News
No Result
View All Result

Our children, our future – Tribune Online

by e-Naira Online News
June 3, 2022
in Opinion
Reading Time: 5 mins read
A A
0
Home Opinion
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


MEMORIES of our childhood will no doubt give us nostalgic surprises as it reminds us of our early beginnings. Childhood is therefore a phase of life from infancy to the stage of minor adulthood. Before year 2000, children and youth days were combined and jointly celebrated, until the United Nations finally pronounced that the International Children and Youth Day should be separated and celebrated apart on May 27 and August 12 respectively. In addition, the African Charter was also declared every June 16 as the “Day of the African Child” in order to drive home the inextricable importance of the welfare and holistic development of the African child. Another giant stride towards addressing the plight of the Nigerian child was the passage and adoption of the Child Rights Act in 2003.  Without doubt, children and youth, who are commonly referred to as “future leaders” are the most-vulnerable segments of Nigeria’s vast population. As such, pragmatic and conscientious efforts must therefore be constantly made, towards the provision of meaningful social security structures and programmes that would effectively shape them morally, intellectually and spiritually in order to re-direct the present disheartening down trend of the Nigerian society.

“Children depends on us to speak for them because they are voiceless (powerless) and they suffer most, when national resources are mismanaged. Therefore, they need us to bring their special needs to the notice of those in power.” Statistics have it that over ten million Nigerian children are presently being classified as “underprivileged and deprived children.” This figure portends great danger for the nation, if this sordid situation is not urgently arrested. In fact, there are so many shocking and highly disturbing statistics on the Nigerian children, ranging from child abuse (in different forms), child labour, out-of-school children, street children, child mortality issues, among others  Some renowned writers and musicians, specially dedicated their works to “the child.”  Amongst them are The African Child by Camara Laye; Ake by Wole Soyika; Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence. In the same vein, some English writers’ works on the child are Paradise Regained by John Milton; The child is father of the man by William Woodsworth.

Among the musicians, we have The child by King Sunny Ade; Precious gift by Chief Ebenezer Obey, among others. All the above listed works were part of various attempts aimed at advocating and re-awakening us from our slumber of gross neglect and abuse of the child.   A child does not willingly choose his or her parents, family, tribe, society or nation. Rather, we all grew up to find ourselves where we are; and where we find ourselves individually, go a very long way, to determine who and what we are today. Therefore, parental characters and care, family, kinship and societal values, wherein a child lives and grow, coupled with national character (civic culture and orientational goals), among others, are key components which largely impact on the mental, moral, intellectual, psychological, physiological, and the overall social development of a child. In essence, these fundamental foundations prepare him or her for the roles and responsibilities the child will later play in life. In this light, we must all come to the realization that the welfare and capacity of the nation tomorrow depend heavily on the established developmental process enjoyed by our children today.

In essence, the role of the family institution as a veritable social unit of cannot be over-emphasised. A nation is built on the foundation of various family structures whose members interface in the larger society to pilot the affairs of their nation. In comparative terms, a nation’s future growth largely depends on the socioeconomic well-being, as well as the security and stability of various family structures. As a result, a child’s immediate environment is without doubt his first school from infancy. At this stage of a child’s life, the five senses of taste, sight, touch, feel and smell constitute the child’s means of communication. The sensual learning process of a child, can therefore be summed up thus : “if a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn; if a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight; if a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy; if a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty; if a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient; if a child lives with encouragement, he learns to have confidence; if a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate; if a child lives with fairness, he learns justice; if a child lives with security, he learns to have faith; if  a child lives with approval, he likes himself; if a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world.”

The sociopolitical cum economic situation in Nigeria has now become very pathetic and worrisome because Nigerian children and youth who should be properly groomed as future leaders have been derailed, demoralised and psychologically injured by the multitude of shameless and heartless people who are saddled with the responsibility of managing national resources for both human and national development. These bunch of unpatriotic people, who should serve as role models to the younger ones and the larger society are not only stealing public funds, they are also destroying the sanctity of government, as well as social development infrastructures of the society in general, most especially education.  At no other time than now have  Nigerian children been faced with unprecedented threats. Without doubt, Nigeria’s future is now gravely endangered due to the gross negligence of those who are saddled with managing our national affairs. In the words of Martin Luther King (Jnr.), “the property of a nation cannot be measured by the abundance of her public buildings.  But rather, through the numbers of her cultivated citizens.”

In the light of the above salient facts, the roles of youth organisations, most especially those who focus on imparting religious, moral and civic education, character building, leadership training, patriotism and selfless service, are a sine-qua-non to the attainment of sustainable success in this direction. It therefore behoves government at all levels to identify and synergise with these organisations by strengthening them towards achieving their lofty aims and objectives. Thereby, pupils and students in particular, should be encouraged to join such voluntary youth organisations like the Boys Scout, Man O’ War, Boys/Girls Brigade, Red Cross, Girls Guide, Sheriff Guard, among others.

  • Comrade Abdullahi is a veteran youth activist.

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents

In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state…

Selfies, video calls and Chinese documentaries: The things you’ll meet onboard Lagos-Ibadan train

The Lagos-Ibadan railway was inaugurated recently for a full paid operation by the Nigerian Railway Corporation after about a year of free test-run. Our reporter joined the train to and fro Lagos from Ibadan and tells his experience in this report…



Source link

Tags: childrenFutureOnlineTribune
Previous Post

Lagos community gets water project, residents excited

Next Post

Sell-off in NB, 25 stocks lead NGX 0.3 per cent loss — Business — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

Related Posts

Opinion

Nigerian universities and the noise of advancing ideas

by e-Naira Online News
February 2, 2023
Opinion

Why 2023 polls should not be about the Emilokans

by e-Naira Online News
February 1, 2023
Opinion

How non-remittance of petrodollars affects the Nigerian economy

by e-Naira Online News
February 1, 2023
Opinion

Seyi Makinde’s second term bid

by e-Naira Online News
February 1, 2023
Opinion

The group that lost its way

by e-Naira Online News
January 31, 2023
Next Post

Sell-off in NB, 25 stocks lead NGX 0.3 per cent loss — Business — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

‘Why cleaner energy, net-zero may remain elusive in Africa’ — Business — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

British American Tobacco earns alliance for Water Stew — Opinion — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

January 29, 2023

Crypto Bank Custodia Denied Membership in US Federal Reserve System – Finance Bitcoin News

January 29, 2023

Nigeria, others to meet over development in oil sector | The Guardian Nigeria News

January 27, 2023

Vitafoam Plc advocates special FX window for manufacturing sector

January 28, 2023

NIMASA plots CVFF disbursement strategy with banks — Business — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

January 29, 2023

NGX CEO says to strengthen partnerships, digital transformation, sustainability

January 26, 2023

CAP full year PBT rises by 79% to N3.1bn

January 27, 2023

UNCTAD, Islamic Development Bank unite over sustainable investment — Business — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

January 29, 2023

Tinubu distancing self from APC’s failure —Atiku’s aide

February 2, 2023

Why rail sector remains moribund, has no profit in 59 years | The Guardian Nigeria News

February 2, 2023

Nigerian universities and the noise of advancing ideas

February 2, 2023

Moody’s downgrades Nigerian banks’ rating

February 1, 2023

8 Black Financial Influencers You Ought to Follow

February 1, 2023

Federal Reserve Raises Benchmark Interest Rate by 0.25%, Disinflationary Process ‘Early,’ Says Powell  – Economics Bitcoin News

February 1, 2023

Geregu Power reports 51% drop in annual profit, proposes N20 billion dividend

February 1, 2023

MTN Declares N10 Per Share Dividend As Revenue Hits N2.0trn

February 1, 2023

Get the free newsletter

eNaira Online News

Get the latest news and follow the coverage of eNaira, Business & Financial, Stock Market, Analysis, and more from the trusted sources.

CATEGORIES

  • Banking
  • Business
  • Capital Market
  • Companies
  • Crypto
  • eNaira
  • Finance
  • Opinion
  • Personal Finance
  • Real estate
  • Uncategorized
No Result
View All Result

GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us

Copyright © 2022 e-Naira Online News.
e-Naira Online News is not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • eNaira
  • Capital Market
  • Business
  • Finance
  • Banking
  • PF
  • Companies
  • Crypto
  • Real Estates
  • Opinion

Copyright © 2022 e-Naira Online News.
e-Naira Online News is not responsible for the content of external sites.