By IJEOMA UKAZU
“Children living with disabilities should not be excluded in any learning or activities that would enhance their growth. We should teach them and not exclude them from things their peers are doing. They may not do it the same way we do things but would do it differently in a unique way,” says Aoki Van-Egbolibe.
The 12-year-old Van-Egbolibe, a Senior Secondary one student, SS1, of Bencom College Ikorodu Lagos, spoke with The Abuja Inquirer in an interview to mark the World Children’s Day event organised by the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, said she wants to be an aerospace engineer because she loves the concept of flying and space, said the girl child needs to be given the same opportunity as boys.
She adds that children need a society where there is inclusion and no discrimination and are allowed to showcase their God-given talent to the best of their abilities.
According to her, “Children are important and should be encouraged to be the best they can be. Children are a special breed. The way we do things is different from the way adults dose.
“Most people think that fields such as technology or tech should be for the male child. That is Discrimination against the girl child. Girls also can be involved in technology. I started coding classes when I was 10 years old and I am good at it,” Miss Van-Egbolibe said.
Speaking on climate change, she said it is wrong to cut down trees and that informed her decision to draw a tree at the World Children’s Day event today, stressing the need for people to plant more trees gives off oxygen that we need to breathe.
For, Kehinde Dare Oladipopu James, wants a world where every child would be treated fairly, and have access to free healthcare without discrimination.
The 10-year-old Junior Secondary School student, JSS 1, of Lafiaji Junior High School Lagos Island said, “Excluding children in activities that would enhance their growth would impact on so many aspects of their life like education and developing some life skills that would help them in future.”
He called on world leaders to create a safe place for children across the globe for children to thrive, when this is done, the future of children would be assured.
For the Nigerian government, James said they should ensure children are safe in schools and at home, adding that free education should be accorded to children up to the secondary level to reduce the alarming out-of-school.
According to a UNICEF report published ahead of World Children’s Day marked annually every 20th November states that discrimination against children bordering on language, religion, and ethnicity has greatly impacted their education, health, and access to government resources.
The reports which highlight the issues such as Rights denial explained that the impact of discrimination on children shows the extent to which racism and discrimination impact children’s education, health, access to a registered birth, and a fair and equal justice system, and highlights widespread disparities among minority and ethnic groups.
UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell said, “Systemic racism and discrimination put children at risk of deprivation and exclusion that can last a lifetime. This hurts us all. Protecting the rights of every child – whoever they are, wherever they come from – is the surest way to build a more peaceful, prosperous, and just world for everyone.”
Russell said among the new findings, the report shows that children from marginalized ethnic, language and religious groups in an analysis of 22 countries lag far behind their peers in reading skills. On average, students aged 7-14 from the most advantaged group are more than twice as likely to have foundational reading skills than those from the least advantaged group.
She said Nigeria has 18.3 million children who are not in school, and a high number of children attending schools but not getting a solid education that can translate into good prospects for their future.
While this crisis affects children across the country, the UNICEF Executive Director said girls, children with disabilities, children from the poorest households, street children, and children affected by displacement or emergencies are affected more.
According to her, “Discrimination and exclusion deepen intergenerational deprivation and poverty and result in poorer health, nutrition, and learning outcomes for children, a higher likelihood of incarceration, higher rates of pregnancy among adolescent girls, and lower employment rates and earnings in adulthood.”
“On World Children’s Day and every day, every child has the right to be included, to be protected, and to have an equal chance to reach their full potential. “All of us have the power to fight discrimination against children – in our countries, our communities, our schools, our homes, and our hearts. We need to use that power.”
UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Ms. Cristian Munduate said that UNICEF is supporting children and celebrating today, adding that children have rights. A right to education, health, nutrition, and to be protected in a safe environment.
Munduate pointed out that this is the concept of human rights and that we should do all our efforts to make sure that the children have what they need for healthy growth and development.
“You see children with us here today that have different capacities. And because they have different capacities. All children are the same. All children need to have the same opportunities in life. And if our children have different physical, emotional, and psychological differences, it doesn’t mean that they are different. They are just with different capabilities, but we have to provide them with the same opportunities,” she said.
Cobhams Asuquo, UNICEF Ambassador implores children to form good habits as whatever they form now is the habit that they will grow old with.
Asuquo adds that “You have the right to enjoy your childhood in a safe environment, in a system that will support their right, your dreams, and education. You are never too young to care for each other, and loved ones -siblings, parents, and teachers and you have the responsibility to a better society.
The Youth Agency Marketplace, YOMA, a digital platform, is giving children and young people around the world, including the margined, the to build and transform their lives by actively engaging them in innovation challenges, social impact tasks, and learning to earn opportunities.
While COVID-19 exposed deep injustices and discrimination across the world, and the impacts of climate change and conflict continue to reveal inequities in many countries, the report highlights how discrimination and exclusion have long persisted for millions of children from ethnic and minority groups and children living with disabilities, including access to immunization, water and sanitation services, and a fair justice system.
Highlights of the event include creative segments where the children made different artwork depicting images of the theme of climate change and preserving the environment such as trees, the sun and the earth capped with a football match played amongst themselves.
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