The exercise began at Lemna dumpsite, moved to Ndidem Usang Iso (Marian) road, Cultural center, and ended in Bogobiri. Safe Child Africa, a UK-based charity, funded the activity.
By Archibong Jeremiah
In commemorating the 2024 International Day for Street Children, the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI) and the Coalition of Youth Serving NGOs and Individuals in Cross River State have fed over 140 children.
The exercise began at Lemna dumpsite, moved to Ndidem Usang Iso (Marian) road, Cultural center, and ended in Bogobiri. Safe Child Africa, a UK-based charity, funded the activity.
Speaking to journalists after the event, BRCI Coordinator, Mrs. Ese Ibor called on the People’s Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu to fully implement the Cross River Child Rights Law 2023 and make the State fit-for-child.
Ese further emphasized that the team for this year’s event “Embracing Belonging” called for the government to commit to equal rights, protection, provision of basic services, and creating specialized solutions.
The State Coordinator of Child Protection Network (CPN), Mr. Kebe Ikpi maintained that their hope for marking the annual event is “that those with the mandate will hear and make good on the promises, policies and implementing laws that provide for a healthy environment for these children.”
He advised “To take charge of our security situation we need to arrest these menace right now because these are the guys who get recruited into kidnapping, terrorists, and these kinds of things. The time to give them a good life is now, if we allow them to grow the way they want they might become stubborn grass that will become difficult to weed and we start investing in guns and other security apparatus to deal with the problem they have created for us.”
On her part, Hon. Lynda Etako-Agaji founder of Lindcare Foundation maintained that the bulk of the work is not just on the government but the society, even if it is the government’s responsibility to provide basic amenities for children.
She also called for a change in how the children are addressed. “They should not be called skolombo because it is a negative name but children in street situation.”
Mrs. Janci Omini, Communication Officer of BRCI called for the media to be more professional in reporting the issues of children in street situations.
On why all hands must be on deck she said “Since these issues are not reported properly people won’t know the true story and will continue to be problems in the society.”
The International Day For Street Children is celebrated globally on April 12th.
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