2025 International Day of African Child, June 16: An International Crusader for the Rights and Responsibilities of the Child, Dr Oluedo Eric, has praised the Governor of Enugu state, Dr Barr Peter Mbah, for again allocating 33% state’s budget to education and the establishment of 260 Smart Schools and 260 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres in the 260 Wards of Enugu state. While the Smart Schools provide quality affordable, acceptable and inclusive education systems that will empower Nigerian children to thrive and contribute to Africa’s sustainable development, the Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres are designed to be fully equipped with staff quarters and rely on renewable energy sources for 24/7 service delivery. The overall aim is to improve healthcare accessibility, reduce maternal and infant mortality rates, and modernize the healthcare system in Enugu State.
Speaking on the Theme of 2025 celebration, “Planning and Budgeting for Children’s Rights: Progress Since 2010″ Dr Oluedo who is also the producer of the Music “Child Abuse by Nze Dr. O”, Commended parents whose fierce love, heroic devotion, and inspiring examples mold the next generation with positive values. He however alerts parents whose children are brought up with negative values, on the grave danger that the world faces with Uncontrolled Artificial Intelligence, Social media and Digital Innovations in the hands of these children with negative values. This year’s theme underscores the need for adequate financial resources to be allocated to programs and initiatives that support children’s well-being, including education, healthcare, protection, and development as obtainable in Enugu state of Nigeria. With Africa’s large and growing child population, the theme highlights the urgency of investing in children to ensure a prosperous future for the continent. It connects the implementation of children’s rights with the achievement of broader development goals, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063. It also encourages governments to assess their progress in fulfilling children’s rights commitments since 2010, when the African Union adopted Agenda 2040 for an Africa fit for Children.
Recall that on June 16, 1971, more than 20,000 South African students in the township of Soweto took to the streets — demanding to be taught in their own language. Armed police officers responded by murdering hundreds of protesters. It is now recognized as the International Day of the African Child throughout the world. The day focuses attention on the barriers African children face in order to receive a quality education. It provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress made for children and to highlight the challenges that persist towards ensuring access to quality education for all in Africa. The objective of the commemoration of the Day of African Child is to reaffirm the commitment to quality, inclusive, and equitable education for all African children; raise awareness among policymakers, communities, and stakeholders about education as fundamental human right for African children and a public good to breaking the cycle of poverty, reducing inequalities, and securing a prosperous future for Africa; galvanize political will and encourage governments to allocate adequate resources to education and adopt innovation fiscal policies that will allow the mobilization of additional resources for education; promote collaboration among African Union Member states, civil society organizations, and development partners, around education spending through exchange of best practices, innovative approaches, and technical assistance. Greater collaboration will also promote budget transparency, efficiency, effectiveness, and equity in the allocation of resources; and launch the education finance report, which will facilitate understanding of the trends in financing education in Africa and the challenges to sustainable and predictable financing of education in Africa.
In conclusion, as the Day of the African Child is commemorated, let us pay adequate attention to the need to reflect on education and health achievements made so far, and the challenges that lie ahead; the need to renew commitments to creating inclusive, equitable, and quality education systems; and the need to ensure that no child is left behind, regardless of their socio-economic background, gender, or geographical location. By working together, the transformative power of education and good health can be unlocked, and a brighter future for every African child can be ensured.
Therefore, investing on children today is the key to achieving a prosperous, stable, and secure Africa.
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