Gombe schoolchildren seek end to child begging, hawking

Schoolchildren in Gombe State have called on the state government and parents to take drastic action to address the menace of child begging and hawking in the state.

They made this plea during an advocacy visit to the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development as part of activities marking the 2024 World Children’s Day in the state supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund Bauchi Field office on Friday.

The children tasked stakeholders to ensure that all children have access to quality education.

Speaking, Wisdom Peter, who delivered an address on behalf of the delegation, called for accessible education, free from bullying.

He said, “In any society where education is made accessible, there is great hope for the future. We urge you to support free education from primary to junior secondary and a reduction in senior secondary school and tertiary to attain our feat.

“We call on you for the introduction of transportation, buses in the city and towns; this can be done in partnership with local government chairmen. There is a policy abolishing corporal punishment; we want you to use your good office to see the full implementation of this policy to curb maltreatment.”

On her part, Ramlat Ahmed, a student of Ilimi International School Gombe, expressed concern over the plight of children forced into begging and hawking, denying them Western education.

Ahmed said, “I am a Nigerian child; I want to fulfil my future ambition. Why will some parents not allow their children to go to school? I wonder what some people think education is.

“Some parents don’t care to send their children to school; they hawk. The almajiris beg to eat; they are also Nigerian children. They deserve education like me. They deserve the best.”

Responding, the state commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, Asma’u Iganus, assured the children of the state government’s commitment to providing free education to all.

“We are working to provide school buses to convey children to schools and bring them back to their destinations soon.

“The state has enacted the Child Protection Law, which will soon be assented to by the governor to address violence against children,” Iganus added.

She urged children to study and acquire vocational skills to become productive and innovative.