By Murtala Ahmad Mustapha
The Bauchi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development has joined the rest of African countries to commemorate this year’s international Day of African Child.
The day was set aside by the Organization of African Unity now the African Union, AU, to honour the children who participated in the Soweto Uprising in South Africa on 16th June, 1976 and to draw attention to the rights, welfare and education of African children.
The day is also aimed at promoting access to quality education, protection of children from abuse, better healthcare, nutrition, equal opportunities for girls and boys as well as the implementation of children’s rights across Africa.
Speaking at the event, the State Commissioner of Women Affairs and Child Development, Mrs Lydia Haruna Tsammani pledged Government’s commitment to strengthening child protection and scaling up early childhood development programs.
Mrs Tsammani who urged the education stakeholders to work together to address out of school children as a result of poverty, traditional harmful practices, early marriage and exclusions, neglect and child disability among others.
In a remark, the State Commissioner of Education, Alhaji Abdulkadir Ibrahim acknowledged more children enrollment figures into the 2026/20207 academic session.
Alhaji Abdulkadir Ibrahim represented by the Head of Policy and Implementation, Hajiya Fatima Sambo Abubakar enjoyed the children to concentrate on their academic journey to enable them have brighter future.
On his part, the representative of the Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Boad, Bashir Usman said the day is inline with the boad’s planned activity to encourage school children on personal hygiene and sanitation.
The theme for this year’s celebration is ensuring universal Access to water, sanitation and hygiene for every child in Africa and feature Drama among children, presentation among others.