…..Arts Exhibition
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry for Youths & Social Development marked the World Children’s Day November, 20 With Children Policy Dialogue by Children with the Lagos State House of Assembly Members and Arts Exhibition.
The theme for 2025 World Children’s Day is ‘My Day, My Right’, a global day of action for children usually observed November. 20.
It marks the anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and serves as a call to action for schools, communities, and institutions to engage with and support children.
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The event which held at the Lagos State House of Assembly Complex, Alausa Ikeja had in attendance children drawn from different schools across Lagos State including the 7th Assembly of Lagos State Children’s Parliament.
Speaking at the forum, Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere, reiterated the importance of every November 20, in which the world agreed that children have rights, not privileges. The right to survive, to learn, to be protected, to be heard.
She however revealed that globally there is a pullback on child rights, adding that funding is being slashed just when children need it most. “This funding cuts mean 4.5 million more children could die by 2030. Six million more children could be out of school by 2026. And while over 200 million children desperately need help, the money to reach them is disappearing.
“This is the world we are operating in right now but it does not have to be our Lagos story.”
She commended Lagos State for their effort on children right stating her stay here has proved what the state is capable of doing.
“I have been in Lagos long enough to know what you are capable of. When you commit to something, you deliver. Your birth registration numbers are the best in Nigeria. When you decide that children matter, you prove it.”
She added: “These children here today come from various parts of Lagos. Different schools and different circumstances but they share something in common: they all have rights. The right to education, to health, to protection, to clean water, to be heard. These are not favors we grant when budgets allow. These are rights.
“The children will tell you about their peers going to school hungry, about schools with no toilets, on water, no books. They will tell you about violence they have endured or seen their friends endure and others will tell you that nobody asks them what they think, even when decisions are made about their lives.”
Stressing on the theme of this year’s World Children’s Day, Lafoucriere said: “My Day. My Rights” the theme for this year’s World Children’s Day is not a slogan or theory about children, but their actual realities.
“The important thing is that these children are here because they believe you can help. They believe you will help, you are sitting in the House of Assembly, the place where laws are made, budgets are approved, and priorities are set. You have the power to change their lives today,” she said.
She urged the Honourable members to act on the request from the children on when to fix that school or expand digital learning including in remote and hard-to-reach communities, when to build that health center or expand that health insurance scheme, when to create space for children’s voices in your decisions, and so on.
She added that their response and action is important because every child they invest in becomes a healthier, smarter, more productive adult.
“Every child you protect is one less person trapped in poverty or crime and every child you empower becomes a leader who builds a better Lagos.
“UNICEF is ever ready to support Lagos state in fulfilling the rights of every child. So let us make today count. Let us leave here with actions that children can see and feel in their daily lives and let us show them what leadership looks like,” she added.
The Policy Dialogue, moderated by Abdulsalam Anjolaoluwa, Speaker, Lagos State Children’s Parliament focused on child friendly budgeting, education, health, protection, sanitation, innovation amongst others with the children’s request and challenges been listened to by the Honourable members.
In his response, the Leader of LAHA, Temitope Adewale, noted that the state government is making significant efforts to create an enabling environment for children.
He assured that the issues raised would be thoroughly reviewed and addressed accordingly.
Hon Abiodun Orekoya, Chairman House Committee on Youth and Social Development, Lagos State House of Assembly in his remarks counselled the children on the need to avoid menace such as drug abuse as the prevalent in the society is affecting the future of many youngsters who are expected to change the narrative of the nation for the better.
He assured them of Lagos State Assembly’s continued support for children’s protection more especially policies that will help in the provision of quality education.
Hon. Orekoys commended UNICEF for its unwavering commitment to children, noting that UNICEF’s continuous support was helping to secure a brighter, more promising future for every child.
Also present at the dialogue are Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Youths & Social Development (Mrs. Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu and Hon. Commissioner for Youths & Social Development, Lagos State, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende.
BV.
