NGA fetes kids on Children’s Day

In his address, NGA boss, Abdullahi Muku said, the alarming rate of child labour is worrisome and an evil whose harrowing experiences remain with the children all their life. “Adopting this theme is our firm commitment to bettering the lot of the Nigerian child. Many of our children have fantastic dreams and aspirations which will […]

In his address, NGA boss, Abdullahi Muku said, the alarming rate of child labour is worrisome and an evil whose harrowing experiences remain with the children all their life.
“Adopting this theme is our firm commitment to bettering the lot of the Nigerian child. Many of our children have fantastic dreams and aspirations which will blossom if followed through.
A student of Anglican Girls Grammar School, Blessing Madubuiko who said as a child she knows she has a right which include the right to life, education, shelter and personal dignity amongst others, urged government to create more security facilities for the protection of students so that there would be an end to attacks on schools and kidnap of students.”
Ali Gideon a 12 year old primary 6 pupil who drew a piece which he titled ‘Who sent you?’ said he was motivated to do the piece to, “show mothers that hawking isn’t good for children to participate in because they ought to be in school and engaging in other educational activities not being exposed to risk.”
He said he believed there could be a change if more parents are aware of the consequences of children hawking and parents are better enlightened on the need to send their children to school.
Ngozi John-Uyah who has championed the Children’s Day celebration for at least two years now, said the theme is an interrogation of a social malaise that poses a serious global challenge. She said, “Children are not excluded from this negative phenomenon. Children who are forced to engage in economic activities as a result of poverty are left vunerable to all sorts of evil.”
Speaking on works submitted for the exhibition, Uyah said, “The thread that runs through the fabric of the works of art on display is the argument that child labour deprives the child of an opportunity to be the best that he or she can aspire to be.”