Nowadays, the social embarrassment against humans especially children and women soars daily and almost every home appears to be a shareholder. The
The poor and the rich families exist but they are not completely safe from social stigmatization. Comparing the social stigma against children and women today to the experience of people during the civil war in Nigeria is probably an understatement.
Notable among the social slurs against teenagers include child labour, molestation, denying access to formal education and trafficking. Women among them had experienced bitter cases of gender-based violence, early marriage, high bride price female genital mutilation/cutting, denying choice of marital partner by parents, denying access to inherit parent's property, etc. Some of them had discomfiting cases of rape and being forced or lured into sexual commercial jobs (prostitution/harlotry) to the extent that they become the promoters of baby factories to raise money for their hirers or employers.
The horrible experiences had affected the children badly, especially the females, tearing many families apart; with impending curses. The ordeals even affecting people in the academic, business, religious, traditional and other institutions had resulted in death, school dropouts, sickness, police arrest, litigations and jail as well.
The resultant effects have continued attracting blame on parents. It is because a family as the nucleus of the wider society can never be completed without a child and a woman, hence, a man officially gets married and gives birth to a child. Leaders of various sectors particularly those occupying political positions have also received a huge share of the blame emerging from the violence against children and women.
In Nigeria, it was gathered the northern part of the country has topped the list among the victims of the above-mentioned crimes. While Ebonyi in Southern Nigeria, is allegedly leading other states attending to its high poverty Index.
Investigation revealed that most of the children hawking in the cities of Lagos, Abuja, Awaka, Onitsha, Aba and other states, especially in Southern Nigeria are dominated by Ebonyi citizens. Most of them, according to our sources, left their various home with or without the consent of their parents to do business apprenticeship in the big cities. Immediately, the young children (the majority of them are school leavers) reach the cities, they are subjected to hard labour. Some of them would be mandated to sell pure water, toothsticks/brushes, Kanda or gala on the streets by their apparent slave masters. Most of the female children among them would be forced into prostitution and other abject jobs. Others would be forced to become barrow pushers, loaders and conductors among other weird and burdensome jobs in the cities just to raise money for their hirers against their initial agreement before leaving their own homes or towns.
Another awkward episode is the ordeal of Ebonyi's children especially females serving as housemaids to wealthy people. The majority of them are turned house slaves, facing bullying, hard labour, starvation, and even rape. They hardly enjoy full rights desirable for a living being. Some of them would be forced to bear or answer the names of animals, such as goat, monkey, idiot, and Ekwensu (Satan) among others. These children would be used as subjects of mockery in their slave masters' houses in the name of house assistants.
Nevertheless, those in various schools especially the female undergraduates and serving corps members have chosen to use the period to become millionaires through prostitution, sexual commercial jobs hooked agents and baby factories, among others.
The situation has made the Ebonyi State Governor's Wife, Mrs Uzoamaka Nwifuru flagged off a campaign against gender-based violence and child abuse.
Addressing Ebonyi women during the 2023 August meeting at Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium Abakaliki, the State Capital, Mrs Nwifuru charged mothers to be more vigilant and proactive in safeguarding children in their various homes.
The Ebonyi First Lady noted that the challenges facing every home across the nation, have demanded mothers' concerted effort to ensure the safety and well-being of every child to promote happy households.
Speaking on the theme; "Mother where is your child?" Mrs Nwifuru noted that the central message of the event has evoked a profound sense of concern and responsibility that goes beyond mere words.
"This powerful phrase evokes a profound sense of concern and responsibility that goes beyond mere words. It challenges us to reflect on our role as mothers in ensuring the safety and well-being of every child.
"The theme is a call to action, a call to be vigilant and proactive in safeguarding the welfare of our children. It is a plea for us to come together, regardless of our differences, and unite in the course of protecting the innocent and vulnerable ones among us.
"As the first lady of Ebonyi State, it has been my message to all mothers to train their children themselves and not send them outside the state for others to train. This leads to different forms of Child Abuse and Human Trafficking.
"Ebonyi children need to be safe from such harm, hence we need to protect them and train them ourselves. As a state, we will create an environment where no child is left behind.
"We will invest in education, healthcare, and social support systems that empower mothers and families to provide a nurturing and safe environment for their children to thrive.
"Mothers are the first teachers, caregivers, and protectors of their children, but let us not forget that we are all responsible for the well-being of our children.
"Every adult, every community, every institution - each of us has a part to play in ensuring the safety and happiness of the children around us," Mrs Nwifuru explained.
She added: "Today is the August meeting, and once you get back home, remove your clothes, go to the kitchen and prepare a nice meal for your husband. Start from there to make your home peaceful. If you bring your husband back home, he will train your children. No single person trains children in a family. Each time, whatever you are doing, keep asking yourself, where is your child? It's the child that will take care of you in your old age. They will be there to guide you. They will be there to protect you. Every man and woman will be responsible for answering the question, where is your child?
"Today is not meant to rob eye pencil, because I organized this August meeting to make you happy, and feel relaxed before I ask you this question, Where is your child? We should try as much as possible to train our children to be exemplary in society. I want to begin the task force. If I see a small child hawking, we will carry him or her, to keep. If you say, you can't train your child, you should stop giving birth to children. If you don't have money to train them, stop giving birth to children and you have to sew school uniforms and send them to school because the government has given free education. It's a woman who doesn't play her roles very well, that always receives beatings from her husband. But hardly, should a woman of virtue, be asked to leave her husband's house.
"If you are a liability and not an industrious woman, it will be very easy for your husband to ask you to pack out from his house. But if your husband realizes that sending you packing, one car will go with you, he has to endure everything.
"So, women, let's be trying to assist our husbands because whatever you are doing is what your children will learn from you. Encourage your children to be hard-working. If you can't cook for your husband, your female child will not cook for her husband when she gets married. If you train children to know how to wash clothes, keep the house neat and arrange the bed very well, you will get honour and accolades for them. If you ask men, they will tell you."
In her remarks, the Deputy Governor of the State, Princess Patricia Obila appreciated Mrs. Nwifuru, saying that since she assumed office as the Ebonyi First Lady more than five million people from the state and beyond have been saved.
Princess Obila, Ebonyi's first female Deputy Governor described the program of Mrs Nwifuru as most wanting in considering the high rate of social stigmatisation against children especially female folks these days.
"You have saved many from their bad conditions to a very good one. Ebonyi women are proud of you and we are here to support you Ma. Many who spoke here have mentioned the efficacy of this program. It's a very laudable one, we said: "Women, where are your children?" It's a very big question, and when we get home, we need to ask ourselves, where are our children? It's a project everybody should embark on. I enjoin all the chairpersons in various local government areas of the state to extend the program to our people. We need to talk to our people, by changing their mindset for them to begin to ask this question; Where are their children? If you go to some institutions of learning now, some ladies will tell you I'm in UNIZIK, UNN, UNIPORT, but all those things are lies. Take it as a responsibility of a mother one day, to go to that university where your child or daughter is schooling. You find out that she is not there. When she gets home, she will tell you that we just finished the semester exams and we are on holiday. We have a lot of work to do as mothers to go back and find out what our children are doing, more especially our girls. What are they doing?
"Gone are those days when they come home you will see a girl child with a big phone, or vehicle and just tell you, that somebody bought them for her, and you as a mother don't ask questions. It is too bad. A child who hasn't any meaningful income, and comes home with anything, ask her questions like a mother. Where did you get this and by the time you know it, what will happen is that she will start cautioning herself. She will begin realizing that when she gets back home with a new thing, her mother asks her about it. And by the time we know that all these menaces will go," Princess Obila said.
Lending her voice, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Barr Felicia Nwamkpuma said the August meeting reinvigorated the birthing of female folks, especially mothers.
She assured hope for women that "we are the pillars for Ebonyi State to thrive and have conscionable family values and development."
In the same vein, the Network of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Voluntary Organisations, Faith-based and other support groups has toured the streets of Abakaliki Capital City to sensitize Ebonyi residents on the proper child upbringing strategies and ways to curtail child abuse and gender-based violence, GBV in the society.
The group led by the State Coordinator, Mrs Fortuna Okey while sensitizing the Ebonyi residents condemned the ugly happenings emerging from child abuse including child trafficking, child labour, rape, prostitution, female genital mutilation/cutting and sundry social stigmatization against children and women.
Mrs Okey who made this known on 2023 International Youth Day which holds August 12th yearly, said, the event became necessary in considering the rising problems affecting the youths ranging from drug abuse, indecent dressing, school dropout, bullying and rape, among others.
"Today is International Youth Day, I deemed it necessary to embark on a road walk with all the members of the Network of NGOs, CSOs, and other organizations.
"We are serving humanity. Service is not all about money. That we should go together to create awareness. It's because the First Lady of Ebonyi State, Chief Mrs. Uzoamaka Nwifuru and our dogged Governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru are championing this course. Let people know that the government don't like child trafficking, gender-based violence, female genital mutilation or drug abuse. We are creating awareness before the residents of Ebonyi state, to know the dangers associated with these menaces. I am happy that all the leaders of the different organisations came out in their numbers to the extent that the traditional ruler representing the Izhi people in Lagos state, HRH Eze Cyprian Nwekee (Eze Gbirim) joined us to disseminate the message to the Ebonyi residents."
A member of the organisation who spoke on the issue affecting a girl child, Aishia Nwachi, condemned the level of discrimination against female children in Nigeria before the United Nations intervention in 2011.
Mrs Nwachi explained that "the girl child is a biological female child from birth to eighteen years, and she was treated badly even in the Arab world.
She added: "The girl child used to be buried alive. In Nigeria, a girl child faces challenges of discrimination from her male child, early marriage, genital mutilation etc. But after the Beijing Conference of 1995, all these things stopped. The United Nations in 2011 also made sure that all rights of a girl child came to the limelight. Girl child now has access to education, stop female genital mutilation, stop early marriage, and has a voice.
"My advice to our people now is that they should take care of their girl child. The girl child should be protected, and have the full rights that every human being can enjoy in society."
On his part, Comrade Ogbonna Emmanuel, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Comrades sensitized the people on the dangers of intake of hard drugs, and other harmful practices. He noted that the residents of Ebonyi State present during the road walk were very happy about the sensitization.
The road walk sensitisation attracted HRH Cyprian Nwekee, the traditional ruler representing Izzi Local Government Area in Lagos State, who condemned in its entirety the risen cases of child trafficking and prostitution in Ebonyi State.
Eze Nwekee observed that the menaces have dealt with the Ebonyi citizens especially those who came from the Abakaliki bloc, noting that most of the victims are females and a few male teenagers.
He expressed his readiness to assist the Network of NGOs, CSOs and governmental organisations to resist every stigma against children and women in the state, stating that he had singlehandedly brought back about 16 victims of child trafficking and other menaces from Lagos State to Abakaliki recently.
"How can an Abakaliki man use his brothers or sisters for trafficking? In the end, he brought them to Lagos. He sent them to do hawking. Not even hawking on the roads and streets, they sell Kanda. Some of them are sold off, at the rate of 20,000 Naira. We are not even talking about prostitution. Prostitution is already at the climax. Our traditions and culture forbid prostitution. If you go by the streets you don't see Abakaliki women who are into prostitution before. But now, they occupy everywhere. Some of them will tell you instead of dying of hunger, so they decided to join prostitution. But this is wrong," the monarch observed.
He said that the current Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has to address the issue, saying that he would talk with him to ensure cases of child abuse, trafficking, baby factories and prostitution are stopped in the state.
The monarch stressed: I'm just lucky to have food to eat but so many people are having a lot of troubles today are Umuekumenyi. Umuekumenyi's thinking must be brought to normal. Hunger cannot kill us now. My office is located down here. Whenever I pass here I share tears because of how little children are forced to do hard labour. Ten years old children are allowed by their parents to carry concrete and blocks. Little girls less than twelve years old because of poverty have decided to do prostitution. Hunger can't kill the Abakaliki people. Write your names and bring them to my office to solicit government intervention. I strongly canvassed for an Abakaliki man to become our governor to alleviate the suffering facing our people.
"Write the names of those children and bring them to me. My assurance to you is that Her Excellency, Chief Mrs.Uzoamaka Nwifuru will address their problems first. The group has come to assist as well. Your children will go to school. I will work with the network of NGOs, CSOs and all other support groups to tell the governor that the most people suffering today after the northerners are the Abakaliki people. We are the people carrying blocks and concrete in Anambra, Enugu, and other states, but God blesses us because we give birth to children every day."
As part of addressing the challenges facing the Ebonyians, Governor Francis Nwifuru of the state has approved over 7.3 billion Naira for the palliatives and empowerment of indigent citizens of the state.
Part of the fund would be used for the
payment of arrears of gratuity to the state's retired civil servants.
The Ebonyi Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Engr Jude Okpor made this known during a press briefing in Abakaliki.
According to him, the approval which was announced by Governor Nwifuru during the State's 4th Executive Council meeting in this administration unveiled that a sum of two billion Naira and three thousand bags of rice were released by the Federal Government of Nigeria for palliatives.
Okpor said, the State Executive Council also directed the Commissioner for Skill Development and Job Creation and his counterpart in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Business Development to visit major cities in the country to bring back young Ebonyians indulging in street hawking and other menial jobs for training in skills and businesses of their choice.
He added: "To further demonstrate the readiness of the Ebonyi State government to drive the programme to a logical conclusion, the Exco approved an empowerment package of two million naira each for one thousand five hundred young Ebonyians involved in street hawking and other menial jobs both at home and across the major cities after graduation from the training.
"The approval which will cost the state over three billion naira, (N3bn) is to be implemented in three phases of five hundred (500) beneficiaries in each phase.
"Consequently, the State Executive Council approved the sum of two billion naira as initial capital for the implementation of this empowerment programme.
"The training and subsequent empowerment of the first batch of five hundred beneficiaries will commence as soon as all the necessary frameworks are put in place.
"In furtherance of the resolve of the people-oriented and purpose-driven administration of His Excellency, Rt Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru to lift the living standard of the majority of Ebonyians through Human Capital development policies, the Ebonyi State Executive Council also approved the payment of arrears of gratuity to retired civil servants from 1996 to 2021 with a cost implementation of over four billion naira (N4.3bn).
"Council also directed that all issues around those who are yet to receive the payment of their pension which is still ongoing should be resolved without further delay.
"This magnanimous gesture of His Excellency aimed at ameliorating the suffering of our senior citizens will unarguably serve as a moral booster to workers who are still in service.
"Exco-members expressed their support for this decision with a standing ovation to His Excellency, the chairman of the council.
"Finally, Exco approved the constitution of three committees to oversee the implementation of the above resolutions."
Recall that Ebonyi State has passed the Child Rights Law, and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law and ended Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting. These were measures adopted by the state to ensure the protection of the rights of children, especially female folks. The state since the immediate past administration led by former Governor David Umahi has a tremendous percentage of women in government positions.
Also, the present governor of the state, Chief Francis Nwifuru has promised to further run a gender-sensitive government, while sustaining the protection of the rights of the girl child.
Nwifuru in his campaign manifesto vowed to achieve these through an increment of women's participation in politics and governance, prohibition of gender-based violence, elimination of female genital mutilation, promotion of female maternal and child health care, support girl child education, promotion of marriage and family support programs in the state.
