The United Nations Children’s Fund has called for reinforcement on efforts geared towards protecting the rights of children in the country.
In a statement to commemorate the 2021 Children’s Day, the UNICEF’s Country Director in Nigeria, Peter Hawkins, lamented the outbreak of the pandemic, saying it had threatened decades of progress the world body made for children’s development.
“Today of all days, we must commit to reinforce the protection mechanisms for all children”, the Country Director stated.
Hawkins commended the efforts of the Nigerian government at all levels and urged society to protect education, health, and services in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children.
He noted that Nigerian children were resilient, talented, and aspire to do great things, pointing out that it is “our responsibility to give them the platform and encouragement to do just that.”
The country Director said, “But we have learned from this pandemic too. One thing we have learned is that education takes place not only in schools – children can and should learn both in and out of school.
“A learning continuum is critical so that all children continue to get education irrespective of their situation, location, or the pandemic.
“As we celebrate our children today, we must act in their best interests and deploy innovative solutions to fast-track learning and health services, for every Nigerian child.”