HAPPY CHILDREN’S DAY TO NIGERIAN KIDS by Femi Alufa

Children are the future citizens of every country. The future of the country depends upon the present children. If the children do not develop in a proper way, the country’s future will be ruined. This was exactly understood by our leaders across the world that a day is dedicated to children on May 27 every year as the Children’s Day. The scripture said children are the heritage of the Lord. Children are the greatest treasure and gift of our life. In our Yoruba culture, we name child as “Omolayomi, Omoyajowo,Omoniyi”,etc. meaning a child is a source of joy, children are better than money, child is a source of honour and pride. They are gift from God given to our life. Parents are just the custodian and guardian of these children. As a parent and Guardian you are a manager of the gifts God has given to you. They may be great or small in your eyes, but they matter to God. God has given us unique abilities, talents, and gifts. We say they represent a person’s SHAPE — Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. This bundle of talents is the thing God has given you that makes you who you are and sets you apart from other people. Whatever may be your station in life, whether you are a pastor, doctor, musician or an accountant, a teacher, driver, cleaner or a cook, God gave you those abilities to train up your child/children and that of your neighbour to build a better society from the bottom up. Our government at all level should also provide an enabling environment for the development of the children, so that the rate of crime, corruption and other social malaise can be reduced drastically in our society. Children are our today, tomorrow and the future. Posterity will either judge or vindicate us for the way we handle the heritage and God’s gift that is given to us by providence. I envision a better society and Nigeria nation in particular where our children total wellbeing will be developed along mental, physical and academic growth that recognizes local need in a contemporary world. Our children will be change makers in their world as society role models; innovators, entrepreneurs, scientific genius, great artists and entertainers, titans of academia, etc in a value driven society. I foresee a better society where children will shape our country for better civilization that is not corrupt or perverted. I have a dream today that, my three little children will one day live in a nation, where there will be order in every sphere of their life and living; decent education, improved health care services, affordable set-ups for modern living; nutritious food, potable water, good housing, functional power and electricity and necessities for good living condition. Our children will live a typical life and made great discoveries to make their world to be a better place for their own grandchildren. We should not rest on our oars teach our children the way of the Lord and to respect the deep-rooted ideas of values of good behaviour, it is by these and only by these we can set standards that are still admired today and in the future. Children are considered as the foundation blocks of a durable nation. Children are very small but have competence to change the nation positively or negatively. They are the responsible citizens of the tomorrow as development of the country lies in their hands. Children are leaders of tomorrow so they need to get admiration, special care and defense from their parents, teachers and other members of the family and the society at large. Today, many children are being abused in many ways in our nation by their family members, relatives, neighbours or other strangers; the case of the Chibok School Girls abducted by Boko Haram Islamic terrorists remains an open sore of our nation. Children’s day celebration makes us remind about the importance of the children in the family, society and country. Following are the common rights of the children which they must get: They should get proper care and love by the parents and family. They should get healthy food, clean clothes and security. They should get healthy living environment where they can feel safe at home, school or other place. They should get proper and good level of education. They should be provided special care when disabled or sick. Let us join our hands together and take a pledge to secure the present and future of our country’s leaders to make a better nation. Happy Children Day to Nigerian kids.