Jigawa Children Call for More Action from Government, Stakeholders
By Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
As part of the 2024 Children’s Day celebrations, children in Jigawa State mostly students supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), took over the Jigawa State Assembly to deliberate on key issues affecting their rights and welfare.
The special parliamentary session, presided over by Speaker Jamila Aliyu Abdulkadir, focused on the theme of child rights protection. The session addressed critical topics, including laws for child rights, strategies to improve girl-child education, and solutions to tackle the issue of out-of-school children in the state.
In her remarks, the Speaker referred to children as “future leaders of tomorrow” and called on the government, parents, and other stakeholders to provide the necessary support to help them achieve their dreams.
She emphasized that investing in children’s well-being would contribute significantly to the development of Jigawa State and Nigeria as a whole.
UNICEF Nigeria, in its goodwill message, congratulated Nigerian children on this year’s World Children’s Day (WCD) celebration. The organization urged children to stay dedicated to their studies and avoid negative behaviors, reminding them of their vital role as future leaders.
World Children’s Day is celebrated annually on November 20 to commemorate the United Nations’ adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1989.
The theme for the 2024 celebration, “Listening to the Future”, highlights the importance of paying attention to children’s voices and recognizing them as the architects of tomorrow.
As UNICEF’s most significant annual event, World Children’s Day raises awareness about the pressing challenges facing children globally. Since its inception in 2017, the event has prioritized children’s participation and youth engagement, making it a cornerstone of its activities.
