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Japan: Boosting Child Survival In Nigeria

Written by Odimegwu Onwumere

Friday, 25 July 2008

In its edition of Monday June 30-July 6, 2008, the Business Times (Nigeria) in its page 8 reported a story with the tittle, “Japan Boosts Child Survival In Nigeria With N940m, ($8.04m). As far as the Poet Against Child Abuse (PACA) is bent to harnessing the plight of the Nigerian child and indeed African child whose story is often sorry tales, PACA doesn’t hide its face and doesn’t talk low in commending the Japanese Government for this single act, especially because the project is directed to the betterment of the Nigerian child. Because, the Nigerian elders have exhibited or are exhibiting so far ugly trends in the management of Nigeria. It’s no longer news that the Nigerian child has no place in Nigeria in the mere future except as drastic measures are being put in place to change this rather ugly situation by the example the Japanese Government has been showing.

The death of any child world over should mean a lot than when an elder of more than 70yrs of age dies. Nigeria is not a place where the child issue comes first, unlike in the developed world; children are treated with equal opportunity. A child has more brighter future and hope more than the elderly. But is the case not the obverse in Nigeria?

In a statement credited to Mr. Toshitsugu Uesawa who was characterized as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Japan to Nigeria states, after expressing optimism that the project will improve the welfare of the Nigerian child said:

“I expect Nigerians to take action to accomplish the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). As long as Nigeria maintains its ownership, Japan will be together with Nigerian people as a partner and friend.”

And PACA is advising and begging the sector of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for Child Survival programmes in Nigeria this grant of N940million (USA $8.04 million) the Japanese government has given to Nigeria, to use the money judiciously to enrich the Nigerian child the grant was meant for instead of using it to better a few Nigerian children who are residing in the cities and towns.

PACA thanks the Japanese government for making this come to about N5 billion (US $44.24 million) it has granted our nation for the prevention of infectious diseases in Nigeria through UNICEF/Federal Government of Nigeria Programme of Cooperation since 2000.

While the grant is for polio eradication, routine immunization and the prevention of malaria in our country, PACA is not gasping for the breath to thank Japan. Any other country should join in this example of Japan to help the Nigerian child.

The education of the Nigerian child is meeting the bricks wall, as the so called “Private schools” have hijacked the education of children in Nigeria, while the “Government Schools” the government was to be taking seriously care of is meeting the bricks wall if nothing is done about the shameful development. And it is a sorry tale that the government schools are now regarded as the schools for the poor children while the private schools are for the rich children, because of the gap between the two in the area of teaching. What a disparity!

A report few weeks ago in the Port Harcourt city, the capital of Rivers State of the turbulent Niger-Delta, shows that Nigerian children who attend the government schools in the area now take lectures while sitting on the bare floor. (Many media houses or offices in the city have the reports and the pictures of these children sitting on the floor of their classrooms).

However, PACA can’t say here all that are plaguing the Nigerian child, but PACA has drawn its wrapper around its waist to help the Nigerian child and the many organizations fostering the Nigerian child to succeed. Once again, PACA can’t thank the Japanese government enough for this magnanimous feat it has extended to the Nigerian child through UNICEF. PACA appreciates all Japan efforts towards bettering the plight of the Nigerian child and prays that it should not slumber with its benevolence. Likewise, PACA is appealing to all other nations and organizations to join suit.

Odimegwu Onwumere, is the founder, Poet Against Child Abuse (PACA), Rivers State, Nigeria. +2348032552855, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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