Mr Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate, has urged governments at all levels to invest in the area of children development.
Obi said this in a statement which was read by his spokesperson, Dr Yunusa Tanko on Monday in Abuja on 2024 Children’s Day.
According to him, A National Bureau of Statistics report states that 39.2 per cent of our children are in child labour and 22.9 per cent of children are involved in hazardous work.
The reports further assert that four out of every ten children in Nigeria are trapped in child labour, therefore, putting the children and the future of society at risk.
Obi said in tackling the challenge of child labour, Nigeria must focus on pulling more people out of poverty and ensuring the respect of the rights of every Nigerian child.
He said this while encouraging the parents, guardians, teachers and benefactors to see to the training of the children, he also urge them to continue to give their best to raise responsible citizens in our nation.
The Children’s Day was a commemorative date celebrated annually in honor of children, whose date of observance varies by country.
In 1925 International Children’s Day was first proclaimed in Geneva during the World Conference on Child Welfare.
In Nigeria it was first established in 1964. The date it is celebrated varies between different countries.
The day marks a celebration of children, raising awareness for issues that affect children and helping us appreciate that they are the future of our societies.