By Khalid Idris Doya
Children in Bauchi State have urged the government at all levels, community leaders, child rights advocates, and other stakeholders to uphold and implement their rights to nutrition, health, and education rights they say are vital for their survival and development.
Speaking during the 2025 World Children's Day celebration organised by UNICEF Bauchi field office on Thursday, the children highlighted key issues affecting their well-being, stressing that denying children their basic rights undermines their growth and future potential.
Aishatu Abubakar Makama of GGSS Kofar Wambam described education as a fundamental right, equal to the rights to life, safety, and being heard.
"Education opens our minds. It helps us solve problems and make smart decisions. With education, we learn to read, write, think, and dream big," she said.
She added that every child has dreams, to become doctors, engineers, teachers, pilots, lawyers, artists, or leaders and that without education, those dreams fade.
According to her, schooling protects children from exploitation, early marriage, child labour, and various forms of abuse. She noted that an educated generation strengthens national development and builds a productive, innovative workforce.
Aishatu also called for stronger implementation of the safe schools initiative, stressing that children want to learn without fear of violence, kidnapping, or insecurity. She urged the government to train more teachers and equip schools with books, learning materials, and technology to ensure quality education.
Aisha Hassan Masheliya of Government Girls School Bauchi appealed to stakeholders to prioritise children's health by enforcing their rights to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), stating that no achievement is possible without good health.
For his part, Usman Ladan Muhammad of Government Day Technical College Bauchi emphasised the importance of proper nutrition, urging governments not to neglect the nutrition sector due to its critical role in children's development.
Speaking on behalf of UNICEF, Dr. Oluseyi Olosunde, who represented Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of Field Office, said World Children’s Day is dedicated to raising awareness on children's rights.
He noted significant progress in exclusive breastfeeding rates, rising from 2% to 29% nationally, as well as improvements in immunisation coverage, which increased from 13% to 39% in 2023.
He revealed that in Bauchi, the percentage of fully immunised children aged 12-23 months has risen from 19% to 51%, citing data from the 2018 National Demographic Survey and a recent 2023-2024 report.
Olosunde stressed the need to reduce child mortality through expanded vaccination efforts. He expressed concern about the 10.2 million out-of-school children in Nigeria.
He also urged the government to strengthen birth registration systems, noting that proper documentation improves children's access to basic services.
According to him, increasing access to clean water and reducing the number of vulnerable or marginalised children remain critical priorities. He emphasised that every child has the inherent right to dignity and humane treatment.
He called for strategic efforts to curb stunting through integrated nutrition and comprehensive healthcare services, especially during the first 1,000 days of life, pregnancy through the first two years.
On sanitation, he stressed that ending open defecation is both a government and community responsibility, noting its link to preventable illnesses such as diarrhoea.
Olosunde encouraged the government to commit to reducing child poverty through evidence-based policies that create meaningful opportunities for families.
He reaffirmed UNICEF's commitment to protecting children's rights and urged all stakeholders to work together to ensure every child can grow, thrive, and lead.
Also speaking, the Bauchi Commissioner of Justice, Barr. Hassan El-Yakub, said society bears the collective responsibility of ensuring children’s care and protection. He warned against exposing children to harmful environments and practices.
Represented by Barr. Maimuna Ibrahim, added that every child has the right to safety, exploration, learning, and growth and encouraged children to speak up when they feel unsafe, affirming that seeking help and protection is their right.
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