The rights and privileges of children remain crucial to the survival and progress of any nation, especially as children are the leaders of tomorrow. These rights cannot be overlooked in any serious development agenda.
Just a few months into her appointment as Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, has taken decisive steps to prioritise the welfare of children and women across various sectors.
From the protection of their rights to ensuring their inclusion in key socio-economic programs, the Minister is aligning her efforts with both domestic and global standards for the advancement of women and children.
In her maiden programme to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebration, she reiterated the Ministry’s commitment not only to the protection of children and women, but also to ensuring their access to social security, quality education, healthcare, and overall well-being.
She decried the current situation where children and women are often socially stratified, marginalised, or denied opportunities, stressing that such trends must be reversed through deliberate and sustained government action.
Declaring a state of emergency on child rights advancement, the Minister stated that a robust policy framework is being developed to drive the initiative and galvanise support across all sectors.
As part of the Children’s Day celebration, several pro-child and pro-women programmes are already being organised nationwide to raise awareness and promote inclusive development.
Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim emphasized that the campaign for advancing the rights of children and women has moved beyond rhetoric. According to her, “The theme of this year’s celebration, ‘Advancing Rights of Children and Women’, is a deliberate effort to not only domesticate but also globalise the campaign for social justice and security.”
She called on all stakeholders, including international agencies, development partners, and global organisations such as UNICEF, UNIDO, and others that have consistently supported the cause, to synergise efforts towards a more impactful and sustainable outcome.
*Abubakar Yusuf writes from Abuja and can be reached via: yus.abubakar3@gmail.com
