By Toby TAIWO
An NGO, Child Care Universal, has chosen May 27, he Children’s Day to reflect of the insecurity in the Nigeria, informing that children bear the brunt of insecurity more.
“Children are symbolic of their laughter, their curiosity, and their boundless imagination that carries hope. Behind these emotions is a child who dreams of becoming a doctor, a footballer, an engineer, or an astronaut, and to every dream carried so freely, with so much hope and so little doubt.
“But for many children across Nigeria, childhood has been shaped not only by laughter and learning, but also by loss, crisis, and uncertainty far too heavy for young shoulders to carry.
Child Care Universal shares some stories that highlight the cruel reality of the brutal plight of children in Nigeria.
“Abdulkadir (10), Hamisu (8), Mohammed (14), and Hajara (12) are four siblings whose world changed in an instant after losing their father to a stray bullet. No warning. No goodbye. Suddenly, there was no one left to provide for them, and unpaid school fees became another painful reminder of everything they had lost.
“Christian, age 10, watched his family lose their home and livelihood overnight during a community crisis. School became a luxury they could no longer afford. Some days, even finding food was uncertain.
“Longrat, age 8, could do nothing as a crisis took everything Longrat’s family had. His parents can no longer reach their farm, leaving the family with no harvest, no income, and no way to pay his school fees. At eight years old, Longrat should only be worried about his homework.
“Valentina, Age 16. After losing her father in 2021, Valentina moved in with her grandmother, who is elderly, unwell, and struggling to survive. She had to leave school behind. At sixteen, she is carrying burdens no child should have to carry.
And these are only a few of the stories. Across Nigeria, thousands of children are quietly carrying the weight of circumstances they never chose.”
