The Director-General of the National Agency for the
Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Julie Okah-Donli has said that
real investments in the development of Nigerian children remain the panacea to
peace and prosperity of Nigeria as a nation.
She said that since children of
today represent the future of the nation, no amount of investment made on them
is wasted.
Okah-Donli explained that while government at all
levels work hard to improve on various sectors of the economy, concerted
efforts must be made to ensure that the children are properly cared for through
huge investments in their health care, education, protection and general
wellbeing.
She however, commended the Federal Government for its
schools programmes especially the School Feeding programme for children. This,
she said, will go a long way in keeping children in schools.
She was speaking in Abuja at an interactive session
with children during an event to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebration.
The event with the theme ‘’Children, Our Heritage’’ was organised by Red
Sapphire in collaboration with NAPTIP and Daar Communications.
Speaking further, the Director-General who is a legal
practitioner stated that it was the responsibility of parents, communities,
States and the Federal Government to ensure that the nation’s children were
adequately protected from criminals who lurk around seeking those to abuse and
destroy.
‘’You belong to your parents, your community and the
nation. Leaders of all these groups therefore, owe you the responsibility of
protecting you from the criminals who plan to destroy your lives’’, she stated.
‘’For us at NAPTIP, with our renewed commitment,
strength and strategies, no one will be allowed to abuse you and go away with
you. No one is permitted to touch you in any abusive manner or take any action
capable of stunting your growth and development. If anyone tries any of
such within your family environment, report to your school counsellor; if
anyone tries it in your community, report to your parents and where you do not
trust these people to protect you and report these to us, get in touch with
NAPTIP or the nearest law enforcement Agency or Agent who would help you reach
NAPTIP. No one will abuse you and get away with it. The Trafficking in Persons
Act 2015 and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 protects your
rights and we at NAPTIP will ensure that we protect you within these laws’’,
Okah-Donli Stated.
She used the opportunity to urge States that are yet
to domesticate the Child’s Rights Act to urgently do so. She also called on
those that have domesticated it to implement it. ‘’There is no need having a
law as good as the Child’s Rights Law and you can’t implement it’’, she said,
adding that the Violence Agaisnt Persons Act, 2015 which is implemented only in
the FCT should be embraced by all the states to check all issues of violence
against persons in the country.
While urging the children to always report cases of
abuse, she also urged law enforcement Agencies and their operatives to give
listening ears to children whenever they approached them. This, she said, will
give the children a sense of belonging and more confidence in speaking out
against evil plans of criminals and also give them the hope of a brighter and
better future in Nigeria.
The event saw children from various schools in the Federal
Capital Territory displaying their potentials in poetry, drama, singing and
dancing.
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