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Hajia Nimat Labaika
By Emmanuel Kehinde, Ilorin
Fulfilling Dreams Foundation, one of the Child Right Advocates cluster implementing the SCALE project in Kwara State have called on the State Government for full implementation of the Child Rights Law passed in 2006.
The SCALE project sponsored by USAID through PALLADIUM is currently being implemented in five states of the North Central zone.
The state includes Kwara, kogi, Benue, Plateau with the anchor organization Centre for Women, Youth and Community Action (NACWYCA) in Nassarrawa state.
Hajia Nimat Labaika, the Executive Director of Fulfilling Dreams Foundation, made the call at a one-day Advocacy Seminar organized for Policy makers and relevant stakeholders on the implementation of Child Rights Law and Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Government Engagement.
She explained that the advocacy seminar was crucial amid widespread violations of child rights and non-implementation of the child rights act in most states of the country.
She noted that the project involve clusters of civil society organizations involved in Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) to seek support of relevant stakeholders and policy makers in the state on child rights protection through effective and full implementation of the child rights law in Kwara state.
Labaika explained that the programme was designed to engage relevant stakeholders and policy makers in order to elicit information as regards the implementation of the law.
According to her, the law has been passed for the past 16 years, however the law is at zero implementation level in the state.
“We have the law in place, but the structures to enable the law to work is not there, so the project looks at the strategy out in place and explore ways of ensuring full implementation of the law.
“There is no way we can do it except we bring stakeholders and policy makers together to ensure we partner as a formidable force for full implementation,” she said.
Labaika asserted that on a daily basis, children are exposed to sexual abuse, domestic servitude and trafficking, adding that no law is protecting them.
Mrs Jumoke Olaoye, the Kwara Coordinator of National Human Rights Commission, pledged the commission’s readiness to partner on the implementation of the law, while lamenting that a lot of children in the country are vulnerable to exploitation.
Olaoye pointed out that there is generally lack of knowledge on the rights of people as well as that of the children.
She advised people to speak up against any infringement of their rights or the fundamental rights of the children, by seeking help from the commission, adding that the era of keeping silence is gone.
On his part, Alhaji Usman Salaudeen, the Alangua of Tanke, emphasised the need to implement the law, adding that traditional and community leaders are closer to the community and are ready to partner with the government.
He observed that lack of sensitisation and awareness by the masses is a major constrain hindering effective implementation of the law.
Salaudeen, who was represented by Alhaji Bello Oladimeji, the Magaji of Jalala community, explained that the law would help the children become upright and future learders.
The traditional ruler added that some children face neglect by their parents and can be influenced by peer group and end up becoming delinquent in the society.
The community leader therefore appealed to the government to also implement policies that will reduce poverty and ensure gainful employment, adding that some parents exploit children for labour due to poverty.
Also, Mr Abdullahi Abdulrasheed, a Principal State Counsellor, Kwara Ministry of Justice, said the ministry was ever ready to partner with various stakeholders to ensure the law is implemented.
