Youths AND Children Matter

In recent times, especially in developing nations, concerns have been expresses over the state of affairs of our youths and children. A child is someone below 18 years of age, while a youth is one between 18 and 45 years of age. Significant efforts have been geared towards the betterment of the lot of this group of persons. At the national and state levels, bills have been passed, reform policies have been initiated. My country Nigeria for instance has basses into law the bill on the rights of the Nigerian child, and efforts are being made to ensure its implementation in all states of the federation. This law seeks primarily to ensure that every Nigerian child is entitled to life, education, and freedom of expression among other rights. Such developments are not out of place as the children and youths constitute a greater percentage of the population. In my country Nigeria, we the youths make up about 55% of the population. These steps being taken to uplift the children and youths are laudable.

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Many advocacy groups and NGO’s have joined hand s with the government to give us a new lease of life. UNICEF has been at the fore front of this campaign and I must say that their work is finally gaining ground. People are beginning to view children and youths as part of the society, who have contributions to make to the smooth running of affairs. I want to add that the enforcement of children and youths rights in our under-developed countries is a major development strategy. If we lay a solid foundation for our children, guide then during the turbulent years of their youth, they will give back to the society in their adult years. They will give back to the society in ways commensurate to the efforts put into bringing them up. The future belongs to the children and the youths, and that future will depend on the circumstances surrounding their existence.

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In implementing these rights we must exercise caution and not discard our culture of respect for elders. When my Grandma visited the US, she was shocked to find out youths rarely greeted their elders, and adults were called by their first name. Here we treat our elders with reverence. In some cultures you cannot look an elder in the eye when speaking to them, in other cultures you have to prostrate or curtsey when greeting an elder. These are values which identify us. We should tailor these rights to suit our traditions so as not to encourage social vices.

Good enough, many stakeholders are pledged to improving youth and children affairs. Who are they? I wish to ask. They include first; our families, then our schools, our religious institutions, our governments, etc. In the African context, any child or youth in the community belongs to everybody. We all have a role to play in the moulding of youths and children. Most families are of the extended type with lots of aunties, uncles, grandparents, handing down family traditions and teachings.

The future is assured when importance is attached to the children and youth of a nation. We matter so treat us with care, love, regard. Give us sound education, give us jobs or empower us to be self-reliant that we do not take to the streets. Correct us when we make mistakes, that we do not go astray, encourage us to know that we have what it takes to achieve greatness and conquer the world. When all has been said and done, by God’s grace “the Labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain”, as we sing in our Nigerian National anthem.