Problems Children Are Facing in Nigeria Today and How We Can Help!!!

Children are the future of a nation; the kind of support, care, and opportunities that we provide them with will determine whether the nation will move forward or not. Unfortunately, a lot of children in Nigeria are experiencing issues that threaten their lives. And a lot of these situations are painful particularly when you witness them in your own environment.

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In today's post, I will be sharing some of the major problems faced by children in Nigeria and around the world, the reasons behind them, their effects, and ways they can be overcome.

Major Problems Children Are Facing in Nigeria Today

One of the most common problems faced by children is child labour. Every day, you could see children hawking pure water, fruits, and snacks under the hot sun, rather than being in school. Some children are used to the routine of waking up very early and working until late at night just to support the family.

Another problem that is common in Nigeria especially in the area I live in "Edor" they lack access to good schools with adequate learning facilities. Not just that, some parents find it difficult to afford the tutorial fees, books, and uniforms. This then causes children to stay at home while their mates are in school.

Poverty and hunger are situations that affect children nationwide. Most children go to bed hungry due to this, and rarely possess good clothes and adequate shelter. Child abuse and neglect cannot be excluded from the day-to-day problems faced by children. Some kids aren't cared for, being forced to shoulder responsibilities at a young age all because they are neglected, this usually affects their emotional and physical well-being.

Reasons Why Children Face These Problems in Nigeria

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For me a classify poverty as the main cause of the early trauma, anxiety, and depression that children go through. A lot of families struggle to survive, and this causes them to involve their children in all sorts of labour just to increase the family income. The act of parents and young youths being unemployed before children also brings for this problems, when parents lack a well-paying job, they are unable to provide the basic needs of their children.

Lack of awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle for kids. Some parents don't see the light education brings and fail to see the long-term damage of child labour. In some cases, inadequate government support in allow the continued problem. Not all kids in Nigeria and the world have access to free and quality education.

Effects of These Problems on Children’s Future

These problems have severe consequences on a child's future. It could cause children to become school dropouts, which can reduce their opportunity of them making a difference in the future. Some children can start stealing and become robbers, bandits, and terrorists, due to a lack of guidance and education.

When children are exposed to seeing life as being though they tend to experience emotional and psychological damage, causing kids to lose confidence in themselves. Most importantly, it continues to cause all poverty, because children with little or no education may struggle as adults, leading to the massive increase in unemployed youths and adults.

How These Problems Can Be Overcome

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Here are the ways I believe the problems faced by children at an early stage of life can be overcome.

1. Parents should first of all prioritize their children's education, even in the midst of financial difficulties.

2. The government should provide free and affordable education nationwide, to enable all children have the opportunity or learning and become reputable people who would take society forward.

3. Communities are expected to protect and support children, and report cases of child abuse and neglect to the federal agencies.

4. Organizations and individuals around the world can assist kids with donations and scholarships or mentorship.

5. Citizens are expected to also protect and take care of children in society.

My Personal Experience and Opinion

In my area, I have experienced a lot of children selling items on the streets during school hours. Each time I notice this, I come to imagine how awesome the future would become if they had the opportunity of focusing on their studies. I solely believe that every child deserves a chance to succeed. No one is to suffer due to the circumstances they didn't create. If everyone plays their part in this whether as parents, leaders, or community members, we can help build a better future for our children.

Conclusion

Children are good gifts from God, and their future should be protected. The issues they come across at this stage in life are serious, but they can be resolved if everyone gets their hands on deck. Investing in children is investing in the future of Nigeria and the world. When children are educated, supported, and protected they will turn out to become successful and responsible adults.

Cc;

@josepha
@dove11
@max-pro
@ninapenda

Thank you for reading. I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences on this issue.