By Lawal A. Dogara, Kaduna
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) organised a funfair for 200 children in Kaduna to celebrate 2017 World Children’s Day in the state.
The agency said the essence of was to make the children have a sense of belonging, while supporting them to grow and realize their full potentials.
The children were taken to a Polo Club, Fifth Chukker, where they played, danced, ate and later taken for horse riding.
UNICEF’s Communication and External Relation Officer in Kaduna, Malam Rabiu Musa, said shortly after the events that the 2017 World Children’s Day with the theme `Take Over’ was organised in the state in partnership with the polo club.
His words: “The day gives children opportunity to take over positions of authority for them to have a feel of responsibility and dream of what they want to become in future.
“Already some media organisations in the state have handed over the entire management and programmes to children for them to have fun.
It is a moulding, counselling package designed to put children in shape for them to thrive to becoming what they want to be.
Earlier, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene specialist, UNICEF Kaduna, Mrs Theresa Pama, educated the children on the need to inculcate good sanitation and hygiene habits.
Pama said that emphasis on effective hand washing among children was necessary adding that it was the single act that could prevent the spread of excreta related diseases.
“It is good, therefore, to inculcate effective hand washing and sanitation habit in our children to protect them against preventable disease,”she said.
Some of the children who spoke to journalists expressed joy over the event, describing it as a day to remember.
Similarly , a young guitarist , Usman Mohammed Gashash who was worried by the untold hardship faced by the less priviledged has doled out relieve items to destitutes , orphans and Internally Displaced Persons in Kaduna.
Newsdiaryonline observed that the young gutarist took to the street on Kaduna metropolis to donates food items, hundreds of protective cloths such as blankets and cardigans to the less privileged to mark childrens day.
Gashash , aged 10 told journalists that the donation of food items , cardigans and blanket given to the less privileged was from his personal savings and gift from families and friends.
He called on “all child protection networks in Africa, UNICEF, WHO and Religious leaders with Human right organization to rise up and fight against all forms of violence against children accused of witchcraft, Child Early marriage, Child Trafficking, Child labor, children soldier and bringing an end to little-girls prostitution.”
Adding that “we must join hands in making life better for the future of orphans ,IDP kids and street children all over the world, while congratulating all children all over the planet on the day, also calling on Government and parents to adopt more children rather than keeping them at orphanage home.
“I usually find it extremely difficult to sleep with my double eyes close in each time,I remember how those IDPs and Orphans children sleeps on the street while some at the Camp,and I always pray for God to help me,so as to help those children that deserves to be help,they are the children of Nigerians and they deserved to be treated very well,” Gashash said.
The beneficiaries however thank him for remembering them at a time they felt neglected , calling on other well-to-do Nigerians to emulate Gashash’s gesture of giving to the needy persons.
