A Perspective Drawn to Nigeria’s Insecurity and its Impact on Innocent Children

Release on Friday, June 5, 2021
Stop the Attacks on Children!
Children, Youth and Women (ChiYoWo) Empowerment Initiative Condemns the
violent attacks targeting Nigerian School Children

Dated Thursday, June 4, 2021

On this International Day (Friday, June 5, 2021) of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression,
Children, Youth and Women (ChiYoWo) Empowerment Initiative joins the International
Community to recognize the pain and suffering experienced by children especially during a
break out of armed conflict, and to raise awareness on the need to stop the attack on innocent
Children. Children are the most affected by the consequences of war, and conflict. The Executive
Director, Tokunbo Ifaturoti, expressed concern about the rising insecurity and violent conflicts
across zones in Nigeria, which has birthed a wave of school kidnapping where school-aged
children are abducted at will by unidentified gunmen. She observed that there has been a series
of attacks on students with the most recent being the kidnapping of 200 Islamiyya students in
Niger State. Also, there was an attack in Zamfara state where gunmen abducted about 279
school girls from a secondary school in Northwestern Zamfara state. Prior to these attacks,
some 47 persons including 27 schoolboys were abducted in a school in Kagara, central Niger
state. In Imo state children stayed away from school because of the rising insecurity in the
state. Currently, some schools have gone on an indefinite break because of the violent killings
by unknown gunmen and bandits in the state. Innocent children in Nigeria are now
experiencing insufferable physical, mental and emotional abuse as a result of insecurity and
violence in Nigeria.

ChiYoWo Empowerment Initiative totally condemns this inhumane act and calls on the
government to adopt strategies to Stop the Attacks on Innocent Children who are the
future leaders. ChiYoWo’s Programme Manager noted that in 1991, Nigeria signed the Convention on the
Rights of the Child (CRC) sets out a basic, universal standard for a healthy, protected,
decent childhood for every human being. In addition, Nigeria in 2003 adopted the Child
Rights Act to domesticate the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In 2016, the ChildRight Act
has codified into law in 24 of Nigeria's 36 states across the federation. However, while Nigeria
is making progress in protecting ChildRights Act, for many children, these rights are far from
a reality.

With rising insecurity and conflicts across the regions of this country, putting millions of
children’s lives and futures at risk now is the time to protect the child rights is more urgently
than ever. ChiYoWo Empowerment Initiative, therefore, call on the government at the federal level
and across states, stakeholders, and civil society organizations to take action towards protecting the Nigerian child from violence and aggression, giving a thoughtful consideration
to the following clear ask:

• Government, business, and communities fulfill their commitment to the children’s rights
  by making sure that every child has enjoys their rights
• Government to invest more into reaching the most vulnerable children
• Government to take actions to protect children affected by conflict
• Families and communities to commit to protecting children from physical, mental and
  emotional abuse
• Government to develop national action plans and resolutions on the protection of children in
  armed conflict
• Civil society organizations can take up sensitizations programs to educate on the principles of the Child Rights Act

About ChiYoWo Empowerment Initiative
ChiYoWo Empowerment Initiative is a nongovernmental organization committed to creating a
better future for children, youth, and women in Nigeria. ChiYoWo Empowerment Initiative works
closely with local communities in four main areas to develop comprehensive initiatives to achieve sustained livelihoods.

Website: chiyowo.org
Email: info@chiyowo.org
Twitter:@chiyowoini
Facebook: @Chiyowoinitiative1
Instagram: @chiyowoini

ChiYoWo celebrated International Women’s Day (IWD) with the utmost respect for the barriers and challenges women have overcome to date. IWD sees a number of missions to help forge a gender-equal world. Celebrating women’s achievements and increasing visibility, while calling out inequality, is key.

According to the IWD, a challenged world is an alert world and from challenge comes change.

So let’s all choose to challenge. That is exactly what we did. As a Team, we will continue to raise awareness against bias and take action for equality. And to our Team, thanks for all you do and continue to do.

Happy IWD!

On March 2, 2021, a 2-member team from the Ebelola Bioenergetic Solutions, Kajola, Osun State, Nigeria volunteered to represent the Children, Youths, and Women Empowerment Initiative (ChiYoWo) to deliver books, including a few audiovisual materials from their donors and partners to the Elerinmo of Erinmo, HRH Oba (Dr) Michael Odunayo Ajayi, Arówótawáyà II.

As earlier instructed by the King, the team arrived at the residence of Elerinmo at about 11:30 a.m. to pay courtesy to the King. After paying obeisance we proceeded with the King to the palace, where the Oba-in-Council had a meeting at 12 noon. We were warmly welcomed by the council chiefs, elders, and the other council members.

Following the order of events, prayers were offered, obeisance was paid to the King by his subjects, the minutes of their last meeting were read and adopted.

The book donation was done by, Dr. Ebenezer Idowu Ajayi, while Mr. Oluwaseyi Olaniyan provided support throughout the process.

One of the Elders was called upon by the King to give appreciation to ChiYoWo, on behalf of the King and the whole community. He profusely thanked ChiYoWo and the donors/partners and prayed heartily.

ChiYoWo remains profoundly thankful to Dr. Ebenezer Idowu Ajayi, Mr. Oluwaseyi Olaniyan, and the Nigerian Schools Foundation (UK) for this great partnership and support.

ChiYoWo is excited! According to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, “we must do far more to advance Sustainable Development Goal 4, to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”

Recover and revitalize education for the COVID-19 generation

The International Education Day occurs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that led to a global learning disruption of unprecedented scale and severity. The closure of schools, universities, and other learning institutions, as well as the interruption of many literacy and lifelong learning programmes, has affected the lives of 1.6 billion students in over 190 countries. As a new year begins, now is the time to step up collaboration and international solidarity to place education and lifelong learning at the center of the recovery and the transformation towards more inclusive, safe, and sustainable societies.

ChiYoWo continues to engage in empowering youth through workshops such as the recent Skills Acquisition Programme that was impactful.

Presentation 1: By  Programme Coordinator – Mr Onyeka Titigbe

Title: The Challenges of Women Empowerment in an Evolving world

Presentation 2: By Project Coordinator – Mr Ope Lameed

Title: What Do You See in Your Environment?

Presentation 3: By Creative Project Facilitator – Miss Esther Omotayo

Title: A Practical Session on How to Make a Handmade Party Bag

Happy Learning!

ChiYoWo continues to advocate the need to prevent the spread of the COVID -19 virus.

According to Water Aid, frequent, thorough handwashing with soap and water is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and is the first line of defence against COVID-19. Like a cold, coronaviruses are spread through droplets from a person coughing or sneezing, and via contaminated surfaces. Good hygiene is key to avoiding spreading it – and catching it.

Let us continue to stay safe!

Mask Up Schools Project 2021 Vision

ChiYoWo’s (MUSP) vision is to help eliminate the spread of COVID -19 in Lagos Secondary Schools in 2021 through awareness workshops and providing masks

Aims

Raise social awareness among the key audiences of the causes of COVID -19 and solutions that will help to eliminate the pandemic

Facilitate the training of teachers and students by our ChiYoWo volunteers

Create awareness and on the need to wash hands regularly and/or use hand sanitizer and provide nose masks

ChiYoWo, is proud to have partnered with numerous NGOs and UN bodies over the years to ensure that it continues to remain a voice for the voiceless. To that, we remain entirely grateful.

History of the World NGO Day

According to Days of the Year, World NGO Day aims to inspire people to become more actively involved within NGOs (Charities, NPOs, CSOs) and encourage a greater symbiosis between NGOs and both the public and private sector. The universal concept of World NGO Day is to Celebrate, Commemorate and Collaborate with the various NGOs around the world, and the people behind them on 27^th February every year.

World NGO Day is a day for NGOs around the globe to share knowledge and experiences with one another. It aims to educate individuals worldwide on NGOs and their impact. The World NGO Day provides an opportunity to honour and remember NGO founders, employees, volunteers, members, and supporters.

Let us keep working towards a common goal!