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By Chidi Nkwopara
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
OWERRI—IMO State government has thrown its weight behind the Child’s Right Act, even as it promised that it would work in tandem with all government agencies and advocacy groups operating in the state, to actualize this goal.The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Jude T.U. Nnodum, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), made government’s stand known in Owerri, while addressing workshop participants at a sensitization programme.” The Child’s Right Act when viewed critically from all angles, has the capacity of moving the welfare of our children to a better pedestal. What it requires in my opinion, is for all stakeholders to constantly sensitize the people on the need for the adoption of the Act in all parts of the federation”, the Commissioner said.
He promised that his ministry would assist the state’s advocacy groups in ensuring the presentation, implementation and domestication of the Child’s Right Act through the Imo State House of Assembly.” I charge all advocacy groups operating in the state to continue to conscientiously work towards the adoption of the Child’s Rights Act in the state. The task may not be that easy but it is achievable and you have a duty to achieve it in the interest of our children”, Nnodum pleaded.Speaking also, the Chief Judge of Imo State, Hon. Justice Paul Onumajulu, appealed to houses of assembly across the nation on the urgent need to adopt the Child’s Right Act, especially as it is principally aimed at catering for children and women in Nigeria.” The commitment towards the adoption and implementation of the Child’s Right Act, would shape the future of the youths, who expectedly should take over the mantle of leadership in Nigeria,” Justice Onumajulu said.
While observing that the Act had become very necessary, especially now that Nigeria has found itself at a cross road of economic, political and socio-religious morass, the Chief Judge also appealed to other judges and magistrates, in whose domain the juvenile justice administration resides, to brace up for the challenges ahead. He urged the participants to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the seminar to re-examine their strategies in achieving a voice for the women and children in their various areas of jurisdiction.In her own presentation, the representative of United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund(UNICEF), Miss Nneka Oguagha, recounted that the journey of the Child’s Rights Act started 10 years ago.
She expressed regret that although the President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, signed the bill into law July31, 2003, it has not been domesticated in all the states of the federation.Oguagha urged the advocacy groups to identify obstacles in the implementation of the Act andstrategize on better ways of achieving success in this regard.”UNICEF is fully prepared to partner with government at all levels and individuals in the realization ofthe Child’s Right Act”, Oguagha said.Earlier in her welcome address, the Zonal Coordinator on the Adoption of the Child’s Rights Act, Mrs OniiEgbunine, explained that the benefits of adopting the Act cannot be over emphasized.She highlighted UNICEF’s child friendly projects as the establishment of model juvenile/family courts,gender-desk practice in the police stations and the novel one-stop justice centre.Participants from Anambra, Rivers, Benue, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Enugu and the host,Imo, attended the workshop.
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