REACH WANTS SPEEDY PASSAGE OF CHILD PROTECTION BILL IN ZAMFARA
REACH WANTS SPEEDY PASSAGE OF CHILD PROTECTION BILL IN ZAMFARA
The Global Affairs Canada (GAC) funded project, Reaching and Empowering Adolescents to make inform Choice for their Health (REACH) has called for speedy passage of child protection bill in Zamfara state.
The REACH project is implemented in Zamfara state through Save the Children International (SCI) an NGO.
The REACH project in collaboration with the Kaura Namoda and Talata Mafara Loc Government Councils organised events in the two LGAs to mark the 2021 Children’s Day.
In her remark, the Advocacy Coordinator inchange of the project in the state, Zainab Usman on Thursday at Kaura Namoda emirs’ palace said the bill if passed in to law and implemented will play a vital role in protecting children from various vices, child labour and other forms of violence against them.
She called on the state house of assembly and the state government to ensure speedy passage and signing the bill in to law considering its impact to the future of the state.
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Hajiya Zainab also called on the government at all levels to introduce measures to mitigate impact of Covid-19 against children especially on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and education.
She called for harmonise children’s development activities and programmes across the 14 LGAs in the state.
“The theme for the 2021 children’s day “Unite to reverse the impact of COVID 19 on Children” is a timely considering the positive impact on Covid-19 pandemic to fiture of children not only in Nigeria but globally”. she noted.
She appealled to government at all levels, parents, guardians and other stakeholders to maximize efforts towards addressing out of school children in the state.
“Children as leaders of tommorow, all stakeholders must join hand and fight against challenges affecting them in order to have brighter future in the society”. she added.
She commended support and cooperation given to the activities of REACH project by the Kaura Namoda LGC and emirate council.
In his remark, the emir of Kaura Namoda, Alhaji Sanusi Ahmad Muhammad Asha commended SCI, GAC as well as other development partners for their support to promote children’s future in the state.
Asha assured continued support and cooperation from the emirate council to programmes to enhance children’s development and survival.
Meanwhile, in Talata Mafara, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the Project, Mr Chanan Solomon said the SCI organised the event to encourage children to be proud in future.
Solomon said that “children a leaders of tommorow, must be given adequate care interms of education, health as well as ensuring protection their rights”.
“Marking this day is to recognize you and encourage you to work hard in your school, so that they will be respectful to your parents”, he said.
The Emir of Talata Mafara, Alhaji Bello Muhammad Barmo commended SCI, GAC collaboration with Zamfara government in promoting the future of children in the state.
Barmo noted that the collaboration has contributed in promoting the future of children in the state.
“On behalf of Talata Mafara emirate council, we want assure you our total commitments so that to eliminate child abuse and other forms of violence against children”, the emir of Talata Mafara said.
The event was attended by the representatives of the state ministry of women affairs, children’s parliament among other stakeholders.
During the event in the two LGAs there were quiz and sports competition among schools and 1 kilometer walk by the children to mark the day.
From the state government part, the Secretary to the state government, Alhaji Bala Bello Maru assured state government’s commitments to promote children in the state.
Maru stated this at Sardauna Memorial Stadium Gusau in an event to mark the 2021 children’s day organised by the state Ministry for Women and Children Affairs.
According to him, the present administration in the state led by Gov Bello Matawalle is coming up with more and sound policies and programmes that will improve child wellbeing.
“It is the conviction of the present administration that children’s education deserved all attention if we are to groom our future leaders and professionals.
“This is why our administration is targeting heavily in building classrooms in schools, providing teaching and learning resources, training and retraining of teachers.
“Our hope is that, one day you will succeed and become good leaders of to tommorow”, to he SSG said.
He assured that the state government will continue to protect the children’s rights in accordance with islamic principles and other anti social behaviors which invaribly have adverse effects.
In a welcome address, the State Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Lawal Gummi commended the state government led by Gov Matawalle for initiating policies and programmes to support women and children.
She commended SCI, GAC and other development partners for supporting the state in child development programmes.
Gummi assured ministry’s commitments to continue to partner with all stakeholders for the development of women and children as well as the state in general.
REACH WANTS SPEEDY PASSAGE OF CHILD PROTECTION BILL IN ZAMFARA
