Leave no African Children Behind in the Development of Africa, by Lanre Kayode Oluwatooki, Edited by Nwoko Solomon Ikechukwu

The world is moving fast. Every day we wake up to new innovations that are destined to change the world. These innovations are spreading across the globe. One of the major secrets to the success of many developed worlds today is that they involved their children in the country's development and made them be acquainted with the country's system of government and other aspects of life and leadership. This is because of the realization that children of today are the leaders of tomorrow. And as such, their children don't only carry on with their good legacy, but they always turn out to be and do better than their fathers. It is important that African leaders should, as a matter of necessity carry African children along in all areas of national development; which is the antidote to remaining backward and underdeveloped in this modern dispensation.

Involving children in African leadership

African children should be involved in all the factors or sectors that constitute national development, such as the Educational sector, which is the most important aspect among others. The Federal government in every African country should ensure that every child goes to school. Education is the basis of development in any country. The Federal government should sponsor children's education until the university level. The local governments, especially the rural areas, should be developed with schools; and most of these schools should be free. A law should be established compelling all African children to go to school, and provision should be made available by the Federal Government for parents/guidance who cannot afford the fee for their wards education. When this law and provision are adequately made, any child seen Hawking during school hours should be taken to school by the law enforcement agencies. And any child who is seen Hawking, the parents of such child and the area council should be fined. The Federal government should encourage companies like Cadbury and NNPC and philanthropists such as Dangote, Otedola, Mike Adenuga to sponsor education instead of concerts, Beauty pageants and other things that are not relevant to national development. Female education as a matter of importance should be emphasized, given more priority and taken very seriously in Africa countries. One of the major factors that militate against female education in many parts of African nations is child marriage. Therefore, to fight vehemently against this destroying tradition still obtainable in so many African nations,  a law should be established against child marriage. Females should be legible enough before getting married, as this will harness their education, as we all know that the importance of education cannot be overemphasized in the African countries.

Another sector children should be involved in national development is the health sector. Many children die every day due to poor healthcare. Children between the ages of 0-16 should be given free treatment in the African nations. The government should establish a policy that will sincerely promote the healthcare of African children, which is necessary to reduce the rate, if possible, eradicate child's ill-health and early death. Poor healthcare of children in African nations has caused a high rate of death among children. And so many of these children that die, are embedded with great ideas, innovations, plans, etc., that could add immensely to the development of the country; and when they die, their God-given potentials die with them; leaving the country backward and underdeveloped. In order for the nation to be developed, children should be given a chance to life through adequate and affordable healthcare. All children should be medically well taken care of, irrespective of their religion, social status, or any other thing. It is also important that the government of African nations should take the healthcare sector into critical consideration, and ensure that enough facilities are provided in hospitals to harness their good work of treating and saving lives, especially that of children who are the future or tomorrow of the nation.

Another critical aspect African children should be involved in is the political sector and in the governance of the nation in general. African children should be exposed to the ways things are done, as one day the leadership of the nation will fall on their shoulders. On occasions like DAC (Day of the African Child), children should be allowed to perform significant functions or tasks in the country. Some time ago, in Lagos, Nigeria, a child was allowed to be the governor for a day. Such a child will be exposed to how things are done in the government of Lagos.  Children may have great and relevant ideas but no one to help them bring these ideas to reality. Children should be given the chance to speak in public places, like schools and stadiums during official programs, to mention but few. The government should sponsor excursions to places children can go and learn positive things that can build and bring out the leadership potentials in them. Agriculture (in Nigeria to be specific) can be improved with the idea(s) of a child. Children should be trained in all areas, from the psychological aspect to the physical aspect as well as in skill acquisition.

African children should be sensitized and carried along in the policies made by the federal government, state and local government, in running the affairs of the nation. As this will help them to become conversant with the way things are done in the nation, it will also help them to get familiar with the laws of the land, enabling them to become law-abiding citizens. The Federal government should establish a law that will protect the interest of children and this law must be enforced and obeyed at all levels. When children are carried along in the national affairs, it will add immensely to the national development of the African nations. God bless Africa!

About the Author
LANRE KAYODE OLUWATOOKI is one of my best students in Senior Secondary School one, of who I can refer to as a daughter. She is the president of the Literary and Debating Club (a.k.a Press Club) of The Dayspring College, Abuja Nigeria. She is 13 years old, and her brilliance is one of its kind that can impress any creative writer. She has participated in some creative writing. Of all her articles, this is the one that most caught my attention, because of the theme discussed, the creativeness, importance, and informativeness of the content, and her ability to present a well syllogized and articulated write-up. To her, I say kudos, and more effort in contributing positively to the world, especially, the world of Africa and more especially, the world of children and young people through writing.