We remain committed to protection of Child Rights' - Kogi Government

The Kogi State Government has reiterated its resolve to continue to protect the rights of children in the state.

Governor Yahaya Bello gave the assurance during the inauguration of the 5th Kogi State Children's Parliament held at the Lugard House, Lokoja on Thursday.

The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Edward Onoja said that the state government has justified its commitment in this regard by ratifying, domesticating and implementing the Child Rights Law in the state.

The Governor noted that with this development, the rate of abuse being faced by innocent children on daily basis will be greatly reduced to its minimal level and vowed that justice would be served on the offenders of the law.

"Today's Epoch making event is another step taken by my administration towards giving golden voice to the voiceless children of Kogi State. As we all know, the Children's Parliament was a creation of the federal government in Nigeria aimed at enhancing Child's participation in governance.

"Since assumption of office, our administration has intensified efforts aimed at reviving all programmes particularly the one to guarantee the safety of lives and property of families living in Kogi State. Lot of resources both human and materials have been committed to making Kogi State safer and better for our children to live a promising and productive life" the Governor explained.

He stressed that any government that knows its onions should see children as leaders of both today and tomorrow and strive to ensure their empowerment by giving them sound training from the onset when they were born until they grow into leaders.

In her welcome address, the Kogi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Fatima Buba said"As a custodian Ministry, we have a duty to help secure the future of our children. We owe them fidelity. We would not relent on our oars unless and until we have secured an enabling environment for their growth, survival, protection, participation and development.

"We shall work tirelessly with individuals, major stakeholders and credible NGOs to make Kogi uncomfortable for those involved in the business of kidnapping, sale, abuse and molestation of children" the ommissioner vowed.

She urged the parliamentarians not to disappoint the confidence reposed in them.

The Speaker of the Children's Parliament, Right Hon. Wisdom Amobeda in his inaugural speech, promised to synergy with the appropriate stakeholders like the Police, Army, NSCDC, Correctional Centres, Immigration, Custom, Office of the Governor, National Orientation Agency, relevant Ministries and host of others to ensure the popularization of the child rights law in Kogi.

He commended the state governor, Yahaya Bello for his Commitment to the well-being of Kogi women, youths and children.

He appealed to the state government to as a matter of importance to assist the parliament with mini bus and monthly or quarterly subvention to enable it function effectively.

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5th Children parliament inaugurated in Kogi

 

The 5th Kogi State Children parliament has been inaugurated in the state.

The inauguration ceremony which was held at the Government house in Lokoja on Thursday had in attendance top government functionaries, dignitaries, traditional leaders, religious leaders and Non- Governmental organizations.

Speaking at the ceremony, Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello who was represented by his Deputy Chief Edward David Onoja noted that, under his leadership, the child right law was passed by the State House of Assembly.

According to him, in the last six years, his administration has targeted on critical thematic area especially education.

Bello said his administration will not relent on  his oars in infrastructural development stressing that, the upliftment of health facilities across the state is on course.

Bello added that his adminstration have embarked on many reforms to better the lives of Children just as the security of lives and properties remains a top priority of his administration.

The Governor however warned Children in the state to stay away from social vices such as examination malpractice, cultism, and  drug abuse 

Earlier, the Kogi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Fatima Kabir Buba vowed that the present administration will smoke out and make life unbearable for all syndicates involved in the business of kidnapping, sale, abuse and molestation of children.

Buba said the ministry is collaborating with relevant stakeholders to ensure maximum protection of Children in the state adding that, any one caught engaging with this criminal act will face the full wrath of the law.

She emphasized that by ratifying, domesticating and implementing the Child Right law in Kogi State , the rate of abuse of  children on daily basis will be at its minimal level while justice will be served on the offenders of the Law.

Continuing, the Commissioner said" The law they said is not a respecter of anybody’ no matter how large the horn of a cow is, it is the head of the same cow that must carry it. Hence, as a government, we have all it takes to ensure the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of all forms of Child abuse in our society. We shall not abdicate our responsibility in this regard.

"As a custodian ministry, we have a duty to help secure the future of our Children. We owe them fidelity. We would not relent on our oars unless and until we have secured an enabling environment for their growth, survival, protection, participation and development, ‘this is our vow’.

"Children deserve protection and by their nature they lack the physical, mental and emotional maturity required to face daily challenges of life. This is why the type of rights used to guard and protect adults cannot be used to protect children because their needs are different from that of adults, Hence, the creation of the Child Right Act (CRA)".

"Whatever treatment given to a child, the consequence of your action might not be visible now but somehow it lingers as it affects that child later in life or as the child grows. An abused, neglected and maltreated child will see life from a perspective different from a child who was trained in the right way and shown the better ways to handle life.

"There is no denying the fact that Children are the leaders of tomorrow, for us to create good leaders with good morals, we have to start training them from the beginning when they are born until they grow into leaders. Children parliament is therefore one of those training structure for children between ages 10-18 years respectively".

While giving an overview of the Nigerian Children parliament, the Director Child Development, Kogi State ministry of Women affairs and social development Mrs Folashade Olaniyan said no group deserves greater attention than the country’s estimated 72 million children.

Olaniyan noted that there is an enormous improvement in the reception of government to the plight of Children, adding that, a lot of efforts have been made through setting up of legal frameworks, institutional arrangements which translate the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child into reality and to ensure its effective and practical implementation. 

The speaker Kogi State Children Parliament Rt. Hon. Amobeda Wisdom said the electioneering campaign that culminated his emergence was never a child's play adding that, they remain resolute as Children parliamentarians who's voice are those of God almighty to synergies with appropriate stakeholders like Police, Army, NSCDC, Correctional Centers, and many more to ensure the popularization of the Child right law in all parts of Kogi State.

Goodwill message were delivered by the Secretary to Kogi State Government Dr Mrs Folashade Arike Ayoade, Head of Service Mrs Odiyo, the Maigairi of Lokoja, HRH Alhaji Muhammed Markafi III, the Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, who was represented by Hon. Moses Ododo, and the Director General, Kogi State Public Defender, Abdul Zakari, amongst others.

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Eid-el-Kabir: Kogi Women Commissioner sues for peace, love among Nigerians

 

The Kogi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Fatima Kabir Buba has felicitated with Muslim faithful as they celebrated this Eid-el- Kabir festival.

Hajia Buba in a statement she personally signed on Tuesday  called on Nigerians to pray for sustained peace and stability of the country.

While enjoining Nigerians to live in peace and love one another, Buba explained that Eid-el- Kabir celebration was all about sacrifice.

She advised Muslim faithful to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice which Prophets Ibrahim and his son, Ismaeel, exemplified, an occasion which is being commemorated yearly, thousands of years since.

The Commissioner, while describing the celebration as a day of thanksgiving, urged Nigerians to toe the line of peace for the stability and progress of the nation.

Buba described Islam as a religion that upholds the spirit of love, peace and charity and preach harmonious living relationship with other religions adherents.

Buba, while felicitating with Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on this festive season urge Kogite to always support the present administration towards moving the State forward.

She maintained that the security of lives and properties is a collective responsibility,  stressing that government alone cannot protect the lives and property of its citizenry without the support of the people.

“I, therefore, call on the good people of Kogi State, irrespective of their differences, to support government’s effort toward ensuring security. The present administration under the leadership of our amiable Governor has continued to do his best to make our state the safest in Nigeria. It our duty as a citizen to support him to achieve a better Kogi State" she stated.

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