CHILDREN’S DAY CELEBRATION IN NIGERIA-THE JOY AND PLIGHTS OF THE NIGERIAN CHILD: May 27 in Nigeria is marked as Children’s Day. This event brings together pupils from the various primary and secondary schools in the country for match past and other social activities . For the wards, it’s a day for merry making through the display of both dances and fashion. In time past, this day was considered also a day for rice eating by some families who sees the meal as both ceremonial and elitists. The government recognises this day by declaring it a public holiday as was introduced by the United Nations in 1964. This all important day also affords busy parents the opportunity to felicitate with their wards. While this day is aimed at standing the taste of time in view of it peculiarity, it’ has also become pertinent to note some of the salient issues begging for urgent attention. Poorly funded schools, lack of shelter, clothing, potable water, electricity, bad road network, technological deficits, just to mention but a few have continued to kill, maimed and raped the fortunes and prospects of the Nigerian child. Little wonder Nigeria’s records in the international community has continued to dwindle by dancing some uncoordinated Shaku-shaku. Today, children of the have-not can only watch life from the looking glass without partaking in it. For us all to change this ugly narrative, government at all levels including the private individuals must harness all available resources for the betterment of the Nigerian child. It is only by so doing that this day will become most efficacious for the Nigerian child.
