‘Passion, conviction and sense of mission must be the defining principles of our pursuit as the conscious custodians of the child. Without these three ingredients no man shall have an effective work in the life of the child.’

Good morning dear friends and custodians of the child. I am glad to be with today. In fact I am bubbling with excitement as I lead this fire. My hands are on the plough. To look back is to back down on destiny. It is the fastest way to die while one is yet breathing. Yes, a living dog is better than a dead lion. But a living dog must make all efforts to justify its existence, if not he may become a nuisance to society and accelerate its own demise.

Passion, conviction and sense of mission must be the defining principles of our pursuit as the conscious custodians of the child. Without these three ingredients no man shall have an effective work in the life of the child.

Permit me today to conclude the piece I began last Friday. I began to discuss with you four baskets of rights. I successfully discussed two of them. Today, I will discuss the remaining two.

The next basket of rights enshrined is the Child’s Rights Act, 2003 is the Protection Rights. This basket of rights has in it the right to a name and nationality, right to equality, right to protection against sexual exploitation and abuse, protection of privacy, protection of a child without a family, right to be protected from work that threatens a child’s health, education and development, protection from other forms of exploitation and drug abuse.

Now before closing discussion on this particular basket of rights, I will like to inform that there are four major categories of abuse children are exposed to daily.  The first is Physical Abuse, which include any physical injury done intentionally to a child.  Physical abuse endangers or impairs the child’s physical or emotional health and development. The second is Sexual Abuse. This is when a child (sometimes even toddlers and babies) is used sexually by someone older. This includes everything from obscene exposure to touching the genitals in a sexual way and rape.

Sure you are reinvigorated to plead the cause of the Nigerian child and bring to the very front burner of private and public consciousness the rights and responsibilities of the children under your care for due respect in the best interest of the children. Do have an INSPIRED day and week ahead.

‘Now before closing discussion on this particular basket of rights, I will like to inform that there are four major categories of abuse children are exposed to daily.’