Today, I begin this topic with a high sense of mission. I am not under any illusion that some of the attributes I may be sharing here many not be popular. My consolation is that I am not going to be sharing my preferences as attributes. I am going to be sharing universal principles-backed up attributes. If they must be backed up by universal principles then they must be a product of research.

The question, you may want to ask is that why does he lead research in this area? Well the answer is very simple, at least to me and my rare team. I lead research because of a divine mandate, which began on Sunday, February 16, 1997, when I gave my life to Christ as my Lord and Saviour and I began the journey of being rescued from the impact of wrong upbringing in the hands of my concerned but ignorant custodians. Here is the mandate clearly stated: ‘to bring to the front burner of the conscience and consciousness of individuals, private and public institutions in Africa, the rights and responsibilities of the child for due respectIN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD.’ Our number one strategy is enlightenment.  For us enlightenment is superior to enforcement. Why? Enlightenment focuses on prevention, which is better than cure. Enforcement, at its best focuses on early intervention. It is better for us to create a world, which is safe for children than a world, where children are rescued after they have been abused. This has been our drive in the last 15 years. We strive to be an independent regulatory in matters relating to children.

The discussion, which begins today, seeks to unveil the attributes of a Child-friendly workplace. Why are we focusing on the child and the workplace? It is because everyone and every institution in the society must be interested in child protection. The truth is the future of every human endeavour is in the hand of the child. I love the way Abraham Lincoln put it, “A child is a person who is going to carry on what you have started. He is going to sit where you’re sitting, and when you’re gone; attend to those things, which are important. You may adopt all the policies you please, but how they are carried out depends on him. He will assume control of your Cities, States, and Nation. He is going to move in and take over your churches, schools, universities and corporations. The fate of humanity is in his hands.”  The best and most effective way to guarantee the future of our organization is to guarantee the future of our children.

I think I should rest my case here. Please join me tomorrow as I begin to share with you the 12 attribute of a Child-Friendly workplace.  Think the Child! Think Today! Think the Future.