Gombe Gov’t restates commitment to protect children’s rights

Gombe State Government has reiterated its commitment to protect the rights of children and protect them against all forms of abuses and violations. The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Naomi Joel Awak, stated this at an event to mark the Day of the African Child celebration in the state. She said children’s rights and welfare […]

Gombe State Government has reiterated its commitment to protect the rights of children and protect them against all forms of abuses and violations.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Naomi Joel Awak, stated this at an event to mark the Day of the African Child celebration in the state.

She said children’s rights and welfare are top priority of the state government, which made the government to transmit a Child Right Act bill to the state House of Assembly few months after assuming office.

The event was sponsored by Save the Children International (SCI) in collaboration with the Gombe state Government with fund from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Mrs Awak stated that children are precious gifts that should be accorded all the rights and privileges due to them including good healthcare and quality education at all levels.

The commissioner added that there was an ongoing effort to domesticate the Child Rights Act in the state, “hopefully very soon the assembly will pass the bill into law and will be assented to by the governor,” she assured.

Awak warned rapists to desist from the act, warning that anyone caught would be prosecuted and face full wrath of the law.

In a remark, SCI Gombe Office Advocacy Coordinator, Mr Akpan Effiong said the day was an opportunity for serious reflection and commitment towards addressing numerous challenges facing the children.

He said the celebration is a build-up to the realisation of the rights of children in Nigeria and across Africa.