Tomorrow is Children’s Day and would be marked all over the country. MARTIN PAUL writes on the need to re-invigorate the day for overall benefi t of children
Although Children’s Day is observed on diff erent days in many countries, Nigeria has taken May 27 every year to celebrate its children. Th us, tomorrow would be marked as Children’s Day throughout the country. Children’s Day is a public holiday for primary and secondary school children.
In the past, the day was full of activities for children, particularly those below the age of 15 and in primary and secondary schools. Th ere were march passes, poetry recitation, spelling competition, handwriting and dictation competition, exhibition of arts work or put it at that level, craft, drawing and painting. School children were made to welcome their state governors and local government chairmen at central places like stadium and local government headquarters, while parents often prepare their children to participate in the event.
Due to the large size of the country, only few groups of schools or any other organisation are selected on a march pass parade. Th e children were given treats such as an outing or doing jobs that adults would normally do. In some situations, primary and secondary school children compete in military parades format for a prize which will be given at the end of the competition. Religious groups in Nigeria also celebrate children’s day in grand style. Many private and public organizations usually put together children’s party for privileged and less privileged children in a bid to give them a sense of belonging.
It is also a day media organisations analyse the plight of children in the society and eff orts government and non government agencies have been make to better the lot of children Th e peasantries that associated with celebration have, without mincing words, extinguished, maybe without redemption. Ask a child in primary three or four what he or she knows about Children’s Day, you maybe surprise at the answer you will receive. This fellow, however, did not miss much when he or she expressed his or her experience. “When I hear someone say Happy Birthday, I know that someone is being celebrated, because he is a year older.
Also, when I hear Happy Anniversary, I fi gure out that it usually means something that involves more than one person celebrating something special. Th is could be like a wedding anniversary, like that of my parents. Children’s Day: Creating peaceful environment for celebration When I hear Happy Children’s Day, at fi rst, it seems like I understood it, but I ask what exactly is Children’s Day? I asked because children are born every day of the year, just like I was born. So, I asked myself, why is there one day that people choose to celebrate children? When it’s someone’s birthday, there is always some kind of celebration like a small party and your friends come around. Th en if it’s a major birthday like 18, 30, or 50, then a lot of people come and the person who is celebrating feels special. Sometimes they receive gifts or presents, and sometimes, a special treat, like a surprise to go somewhere they always wanted to go. Th at allows you know it is a special day for the person.
Th erefore, what about Children’s Day? I wanted to fi nd out what special things happen to children on that day. How do they feel at the end of the day? Do children really feel special as if it was a birthday? Do children receive presents and other kinds of gifts from parents, aunties, uncles and elderly brothers and sisters to make them know that they are being celebrated? Again, I began to wonder if it was children that started Children’s Day, my discovery is that children did not ask for it, but their adult parents because if it were children, then it would really be Children’s Day. We would hold a party for ourselves from start of the day to the end.
Th ere can never be school or class on that day. We would buy cool gifts for ourselves and toys for the younger children, and new clothing to wear as well. Maybe we would go to the movies, and end up in a park just screaming our heads off and playing, and catching up on social media. Yes, that is what we would have done if we were in charge of Children’s Day. Maybe for Children’s Day in future, if adults still want to be in charge, then some leaders can say things like: “We would build 10 parks before the next Children’s Day,” and mention the towns and communities; or say, before the next Children’s Day, we would have fi ve new computer centers in each state and mention the towns. Th at way, children know what they are expecting and what they would get.
An adventure in Lagos with about 150 children at Akande Dahisu Memorial School in Osborne Road, even though it was not Children’s Day, we talked about ourselves, what we like to do, where we want to be in a few years, and I showed them some of my documentary clips, and talked about fi lm making. Th en we did what all children do, laughed aloud, played, and took goofy pictures. Th e next day, about 400 students from 12 Lagos state public schools met in Alausa, Ikeja. We talked about career and what it is like if they want to be fi lm makers. We laughed, played, poked fun at each other, and then we had a small workshop on fi lm making.
Sometimes, this is what we do as children. So, in addition to the leaders telling children what they would do for them on future Children’s Day, they can do one more thing by creating a cool and playful environment, where youths and children can gather together with a little adult supervision and be allowed have some real fun with ourselves, and talk about what we like to see in the world, and what we like to do when we are older. Maybe that would have a more lasting impact when people talk about Children’s Day; because at least, we would have celebrated each other, talked to ourselves, and shared some of our challenges and, maybe, the little we are doing that is right.
As much as it could agreed and accepted that there were several matters missing from Children’s Day celebration, the situation of the country, such as economy and insecurity have contributed to seeming neglect n the marking of the day. It is, therefore, certain that there is the need to re-defi ne Children’s Day with a view to bringing more fun, literature and social engagements into it just as Women’ Day, Fathers’ Day and other international days are being celebrated each year. In addition, it should not be forgotten that there is the Child’s Rights Act and children are also entitled to rights and privileges and existing beings as applicable the world over. Already, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) had earlier promised to use the 2017 Children’s Day to educate children on the gains of embracing their cultures and speaking their indigenous languages Lagos state director of NICO, Mr. Louis Eriomala, had said that it was part of activities to inculcate patriotism among children. Eriomala said the institute annual Children’s Cultural Extravaganza, which would take place tomorrow, was aimed at teaching children how to appreciate Nigerian languages, dresses, cuisines, music and dances at all levels of social interaction.
He said this would also promote the culture of peaceful co-existence and unity amongst children from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds. He said that it was the statutory mandate of the institute to pass this message to children in an exciting ways, while they would still catch some fun. “We want to create a platform to discover young talents in culture and creative arts, and foster a sense of cultural identity, pride and awareness in our children.
“We also want to promote cultural education and scholarship as well as encourage cooperation and healthy competition amongst children from diverse backgrounds.’’ He said that the children would also recite the National Anthem in their indigenous languages, be involved in traditional fashion parade, traditional music and dance. “Also, there will be discussions on the importance of indigenous languages to national development, decent dressing and the Nigerian dress culture,’’ he said. Eriomola said the occasion would provide lots of fun for the children, and advised parents to allow their children to be part of it.
