The World Needs Children to Overcome Future Challenges – UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has said that the world needs the children in the future to effectively tackle the enormous challenges that are arising on a daily basis.
UNICEF Kaduna Chief Field Officer, Dr Adam Zakari, noted that since children are the future leaders, it is imperative for them to be prepared to become the solution that the world needs.
Zakari, who was represented at the ongoing “Access Bank, UNICEF and Fifth Chucker 2018 Polo Charity Shield tournament” special day for children by Rabiu Musa, Media and External Relations officer UNICEF Kaduna, charged parents and well-meaning organizations not to cease from investing in children in order for them to achieve their full potentials in life.
Rabiu, said supporting children is what UNICEF represent, adding that UNICEF will continue to provide them with necessary support required for them to achieve their dreams, because there will be no UNICEF if there are no children.
He charged them to be focused and start preparing themselves for whatever they want to become in future and urged them to always give their best at any point in life.
According to Rabiu, UNICEF with support from Access Bank and Fifth Chucker is providing lots of facilities in various schools to make learning easy for children in Kaduna state, urging them to appreciate and take good advantage of such facilities.
He challenged the children to always try as much as they can to maintain the facilities so that the ones coming after them could also make use of them, adding, “you can see how important you are to us today. The fact that people came from both within and outside Kaduna in your honour shows that you are important and you represent the entire Nigerian children at this event.
“There are over 10 million children who are out of school today in Nigeria for different reasons, so those of you here should count yourselves as lucky enjoying your right to education and on your part, must aim to finish your school successfully.”
The event was greeted by wife of the Kaduna State Governor, Aisha Ummi El-Rufai who engaged a special interactive session with the children.
The Governor’s wife, urged the children to be ambitious of whatever they want to become in future, told them to strive and work hard to make sure their dreams translates into your desires.
According to her, “you must continue to be respectful to teachers, parents and everybody and remain honest and sincere in your endeavours.”
She advised parents and caregivers to ensure that every school age child goes to school, adding, “children under five years must receive full immunization as a right to their survival. We must not relent in the fight against child malnutrition which I am championing to ensure that no child is malnourished in Kaduna state.
“We are on course doing everything possible to stop child malnutrition and we shall be able to achieve this as a legacy in Kaduna state. In the same manner, we should continue to protect the rights of children and create an atmosphere for their participation on matters affecting them, meaning to give them a VIOCE.
“We must take advantage of our different key and strategic positions to change the narrative for children through tackling the issues of children from all angles and at all levels. This includes developing protective laws and policies, promoting services, targeting programmes at those who most need them, adequate budgetary allocations and release of funds and raising awareness to promote social change. Indeed, everyone has a role to play and we should act NOW!”
Ummi, commended the partnership between UNICEF, Access Bank and Fifthchukker, which has been in existence for solid twelve years so far delivering tangible results, saying it has been a vibrant partnership for children and a major milestone for children in Kaduna state.
“Equally, at our various positions we all have a responsibility to support children and this is a task we cannot afford to fail if we want to institutionalize a sustainable future for our state and the nation in general. To this effect, we are prepared to join hands with all relevant bodies to champion the cause of children regardless of background, family, ethnicity, religions or any form of what could cause some divide.” She said.
Also, speaking with the children, the Head of Events and Sponsorship, Access Bank, Lagos, Oge Kasie-Nwachukwu, reiterates her organization continued support to children irrespective of where they are located and ensure scaling up the partnership in the best interest of children.
She added that, their future is very important to Access Bank as an organization, and therefore encouraged stakeholders to take children issues seriously and ensure that every investment on them counts.
