The 2013 International Day of the African Child Organized by: IFMA INITIATIVE & Irene Menakaya School Onitsha
Commemoration of the Day of the African Child for Less Privileged Children & Children Orphaned By Aids in Africa.
Theme: Eliminating Harmful Social and Cultural Practices Affecting African Children: Our Responsibility. A Global campaign on “One Million Friends” Initiative
The Commemoration of the day of African Child on June 16 each year as declared in 1991 by Organization of African Unity member states aims at raising awareness for the situation of children in Africa, and on the need for continuing improvement in education. It encourages people’s spirit of abundance to share something special with a child in Africa. The Day of African Child further presents an opportunity to focus on the work of all actors committed to the rights of children on the continent, to consolidate their efforts in addressing the obstacles for realizing these rights. The Day of African Child also provides an occasion for Governments, International Institutions and Communities to renew their ongoing commitments towards improving the plight of marginalized and particularly vulnerable children by organizing activities aimed at including these specific children. The Theme as identified by the African committee of Experts on the rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) for this year is “Eliminating Harmful Social and Cultural Practices affecting Children: Our Responsibility” The event is to become the source of positive communication for children from different African Children, their teachers, parents, the NGO community and other stakeholders by the way of learning more about the important social issues affecting children.
Irene Menakaya School & IFMA INITIATIVE in recognizing this held a Conference Forum on the Theme: “ELIMINATING HARMFUL SOCIAL AND CULTURAL PRACTICES AFFECTING IGBO CHILDREN: OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY” and Sub – themes:
Education of all Igbo Children
Health of all Igbo Children
Objectives:
i. To assess and raise awareness of the harmful effects of social and cultural practices of the educational development and health of vulnerable Igbo Children, within the framework of human rights standards provided by the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (CRC) and the voices of Igbo Children.
ii. To assess the existence and impact of national legislation, policies, programs and practices to fulfill the education and healthy development of Igbo Children and to combat harmful social and cultural practices that effect children’s development.
iii. To identify promising strategies and practices for the prevention and elimination of the effects of harmful social and cultural practices on the educational development and health of Igbo Children.
iv. To mobilize commitment of governments to combat harmful effects of social and cultural practices and to promote the educational and healthy development of Igbo Children, in collaboration and partnership with children, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector.
The event which took place at IRENE MENAKAYA SCHOOL ONITSHA ANAMBRA STATE under the Chairmanship of Mr Iyke Okafor President IFMA INITIATIVE.
The program which started with the children singing
national anthem in Igbo language to welcome distinguished invited
guests culminated to the laying of wreath for the past young heroes
and march pass, prayer was said and moment of silence observed to reflect on the
event of june 16 1976, when over 100 children were killed by angry
soldiers over their protest at Soweto. The event had in attendance His Excellency Mr Peter Obi, Executive Governor of Anambra state who was represented by the Hon. Commissioner for Local Government affairs, Mrs Azuka .L. Enemo, Hon. Commissioner for education Dr. Uju Okeke, who was represented by the Zonal education officer Onitsha zone, Mr Ozumba Ekenechukwu, Prof. Pita Ejiofor, former VC, UNIZIK Awka, President Otu Suwakwa Igbo, among other dignitaries and organizations including the Red Cross.
The Proprietress of Irene Menakaya school Onitsha, Dr. Adaeze Okika in her welcome speech sent from the USA and read by the school executive director, Mrs Chukwukelu Christy, reminds us that each year the celebration of the Day of the African Child (DAC) offers an opportunity for Governments, policy makers, educators, parents and the media to call on all as well as parents and stakeholders working in support of children, to live up to the commitments in promoting and protecting the rights of children of Africa. Each of these years since the incidence of Soweto uprising had sent various messages to governments, African leaders, African Stakeholders, and those working with children on concerns confronting African children’s growth and development. At the last years commemoration, the theme
“Rights of Children with Disabilities: Duty to Protect, Respect, Promote and to Fulfill” highlighted on various social, cultural, health and education concerns on African Children with disabilities, Orphans and Vulnerable children targeting on the significant need to bring their rights as full citizens of Africa to table.
This year’s theme: Harmful Social and Cultural practices affecting African Children again indicates measures appropriately being taken for the well being of African Children. It is a known fact that African is bonded to culture and social norms and values. But the question now is how far these cultures and social norms positively affected people of Africa in areas of sustainable development is yet a question left for us all in our struggle for collective efforts towards sustainable development in Africa.
The Hon. Commissioner for education in her address, expressed an exceedingly delightfulness to be part of this year’s edition of the International Day of the African Child. In her words: I am also particularly enthused that the theme for this year’s celebration, “Eliminating Harmful Social & Cultural Practices Affecting African Children: Our Responsibility” is aptly identified by the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the child. This theme no doubt is in line with the commitment of His Excellency, Mr Peter Obi CON, to building a better future for our children.
She also said: the Universal Basic Education program is to ensure access to basic functional education to all children of the state. We have also domesticated the Child’s Right Acts through our honourable house of Assembly. It is my pleasure to observe that the objective intended to be achieved by this year’s theme, are areas in which the Government of Anambra state under His Excellency, Mr Peter Obi, CON, is already blazing the trail. May I at this point appreciate all who made this all important conference possible, Irene Menakaya School & IFMA INITIATIVE. The Irene Menakaya School has been wonderful in partnering the Ministry of Education Anambra state, for the educational development of the Igbo Child. I thank the proprietor Dr. Ada Okika, IFMA INITIATIVE, staff and children of the Irene Menakaya School. Please keep it up. I wish also to appreciate the friends of Education for African Children Orphaned by HIV/AIDS, IFMA INITIATIVE, African Women Working Group at the UN, African Women for Good Governance and UN Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations, New York state chapter. To all these groups, I say a very big thank you for your interest in the African Child.
Prof. Pita Ejiofor, wrote and delivered his speech purely in raw Igbo language, he made the audience know the origin of the event of the day of the African Child. He condemned the use of English in Igbo meetings or gathering of any sort, reminding us that the event came to be, because
South African children refused to use English as medium for teaching
and communication in schools in South Africa. He blamed parents and Igbo adults for making English a domestic language in their homes and making the children forget the traditions and
values of the Igbo race. That was not common with other tribes who
keep the routine of building and inculcating the use of their language
to their children saying that language is the life of the people.
The Hon. Commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Mrs Azuka Enemo who represented His Excellency Mr Peter Obi, in her speech applauded Irene Menakaya School & IFMA INITIATIVE for organizing such a wonderful conference forum aimed at nurturing the Igbo child. She added that government is ready to support and partner with initiatives targeted towards education of Nigerian child and promotion of mother tongue. This is to ensure that Igbo children of
all categories and background is provided with full rights to
existence and must not be subjected to social and cultural practices
that are unhealthy to their right and existence . She pointed to
countries like India, Malaysia and South Africa that they still look
up to their language as a means of communication despite that, they have climbed ahead of Nigeria in every way. You may recall the face
the state government had given to Igbo language by making Igbo in
public school and offices compulsory and making it compulsory that
anyone that will be admitted in state school must credit Igbo
language. The state government under His Excellency Mr Peter Obi, have also laid a foundation for building Ogbalu Igbo language school in the state and offering scholarship to students that
performed creditably well in Igbo language.
The event witnessed numerous performances from the children including March pass, dance, drama, debate, traditional wrestling, native games (ikpo uga, izu ncho etc), village square conversation among others.
Mr Iyke Okafor, Chairman of the occasion who is the President of IFMA INITIATIVE in his remarks stressed the need for parents of the Igbo extraction to stand up to the challenge of nurturing the Igbo child and grooming them to be great ambassadors of Igbo land, he said there is a big need for parents and teachers of the Igbo extraction to put in more efforts in grooming the Igbo Child and giving them a sense of belonging in the society. He also added that “If the children are our future, then there’s an important need for us to take the nurturing of our future (children) as a major priority.
In his closing remarks, Mr Iyke Okafor gave out cash prizes as consolation to a number of children who came up to the stage to answer his questions and also told the audience what they have learned from the event of the day. Mr Iyke Okafor, giving them a cash prize commended their boldness to walk up to the center stage and picking up the Microphone to answer questions, he however encouraged children of the Igbo extraction to be bold and courageous in life. He also promises a more dramatic, educating and culture filled program to mark the 2014 Day of African Child.
IFMA INITIATIVE a non Political Initiative poised to preserve the Igbo language & culture, foster Unity & development in the Igbo land, Nurturing and grooming Igbo children to become good ambassadors of the Igbo land.
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone provided by Airtel Nigeria.
