Child Rights: Delta Won't Compromise Child's Devt Policy - Aniagwu

 

By Patrick Ochei

The Honourable Commissioner of Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu has said that the Delta State Government under the leadership of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa would not compromise the Child's Development Policy as entrenched in the Delta State Child Rights Law of 2009, insisting that the future belongs to the children of today and so Government has a duty to give them a pride of place in governance.

He made this assertion Monday 8th February, 2021, while playing host to members of the Delta State Child Rights Implementation Committee who were on advocacy visit to his office, to solicit his assistance in creating awareness on the implication of abuse of children's rights ahead of full execution of the Child Rights Law.

Aniagwu expressed happiness at the modus the Committee had adopted to carry out its assignment as backed by law, stating that every hand must be on deck to actualise this all important child development duty of the State.

The Commissioner stated that "The father, the mother, the Uncle and Auntie of today were children of yesterday.

"Whether you are destined to be a President or Governor, if your childhood was compromised you can never successfully fulfill your purpose in life.

"This Government can never compromise the development of children either as a policy or what the law says in this circumstance, because the protection of children's rights is not an achievement for our today but an achievement for our future", Aniagwu affirmed.

Speaking further, he pledged to collaborate with the Committee in publicizing its activities and creating awareness on the implication of breaking the law on child rights and welfares.

His words, "Reach us any time for assistance in the areas of publicity, especially for those we can handle free for you. Your assignment is noble, because children belong to the vulnerable group. It behooves on all of us to protect them; even particularly the girl children and then women.

"While the Government will play its part, we also pray that the economy of the parents improves so they don't have excuses to properly train their children for the proper development of society. However, be that as it may, the law must take its course on anyone that breaks it", the Commissioner concluded.

Earlier while briefing the Commissioner on the mission of the Committee, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, Barr. Bridget Anyafulu gave a historical perspective on the Child Rights Act of 2003, which was domiciled in the State as Child Rights Law in 2009.

She affirmed that under Senator Okowa as Governor, the proper protection of children became imperative, hence the inauguration of the Delta State Child Rights Implementation Committee in January 2020.

Anyafulu said with the passing of the State VAP Law, the Committee now has two serious legal documents to fight for the protection of every child in the State, because according to her 'Every Child Counts'.

"Your Ministry is key to the success of this Committee. That is why we have come seeking your partnership in sensitization and awareness creation to let every parent in the State know that there is a Child Rights Implementation Committee in place.

"This advocacy visit and request for collaboration in publicity is for the whole world to know what we have done so far and how Delta State upholds respect for children's rights and welfares. We are even doing radio and television awareness programmes on the law. This is because by the time we start the full execution of the law, nobody will say he didn't know about it", Anyafulu posited.

Other members of the Committee on the visit included the Chairman of the Advocacy Sub-Committee, Ven. Kingsley Dieli and the representative of NUJ, Comrade Patrick Ochei.