Akor Ojoma
17 June 2009
As Nigeria marks the Day of the African Child today, First Lady Turai Yar'adua has described this year's theme of "Africa fit for children: Call for accelerated Action toward s their Survival" as apt in view of the high incidence of infant mortality in Nigeria and indeed Africa.
Turai said in her address at the climax of the activities marking the day at the National Centre for Women Development, Abuja that there is the need for collective effort to ensure that the high mortality rate is reduced to the barest minimum. "I enjoin the private sector, individuals and NGO's to partner with government, in the communities where they operate, to provide facilities that will improve access to health care services, education and well being of children, in order to enhance their overall health and development needs of our country," she said.
While urging the children to be advocates of their rights to survival, she reiterated her commitment to ensure that their rights to survival, development, protection and participation are protected.
Earlier, Women Affairs and Social Development Minister Mrs Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman said an evaluation of the commemoration of the Day of the African Child over the years indicates that activities marking the day have been instrumental in raising consciousness among the various societal segments on the situations and rights of the Nigeria Child.
The day is set aside by the African Union to remember the tragic events, which took place in Soweto, South Africa, where dozens of children who were demanding their right to education were massacred in the course of anti-apartheid demonstrations on June 16, 1976.
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