Ogun partners UNICEF on child issues

The Ogun State Government on Friday said it is collaborating with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, to reflect on issues affecting children and collectively proffer possible solutions.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Yusuph Olaniyonu, made this known at a press conference held at governor’s office press centre, Abeokuta, towards the commemoration of Day of the African Child which will hold on Monday.

“The day of the African Child is commemorated every year on 16 June by member states of the African Union and its partner. This occasion is first, a commemoration to recall the 1976 uprisings in Soweto when a protest by school children in South Africa against apartheid-inspired education resulted in the public killing of unarmed young protesters by policemen,” Mr. Olaniyonu said.

“This year’s event is the 23rd commemoration of the Day of the African Child and it is again designed to draw attention to the need of eliminating harmful social and cultural practices affecting children,” he said.

The commissioner, however, noted that the state government has placed high premium on the promotion of the survival, protection, participation and development of children as well as promoting family harmony and reducing juvenile delinquency.

“In the same vein, government has continued to partner and collaborate with private bodies, particularly donor agencies and international organisations, to improve on the welfare of its people,” Mr. Olaniyonu said.

He added that as part of its responsibility, the state government supports every programme that educates and enlightens its citizens. He pointed out that the administration’s policy on health is aimed at improving maternal health care and reducing child mortality to barest minimum

“More interesting is the fact that we are presently constructing 20 model schools that span all the local government areas of the state. We have also rehabilitated and equipped many of our primary healthcare centres across the state for the benefit of the people especially mothers and their children.”

He also said that the government in collaboration with the Child Protection Network, CPN, an umbrella body of non-governmental organisations, has established a committee to reduce child trafficking, child labour and child abuse.