Don’t bear children you can’t train – Minister tells Nigerian parents
The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has cautioned parents to consider their financial capacity before deciding on the number of children to have.
She emphasized that parents should not exceed their means, leading to the practice of sending children away to fend for themselves or live with others in the hope that they will provide support in the future.
The minister denounced such actions, labeling them as unjust and unkind.
She pointed out that some parents do not even bother to check on their children once they are sent away, neglecting to ensure their well-being in their new environments.
These remarks were made during the Ministry’s New Year party with Children in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) held in Abuja.
She said: “In this country, we know that having a house help is not a problem, but it’s maltreating them that is a problem. So that is the more reason why we should enlighten Nigerians that if you have a neighbour maltreating a child, report the case and, believe me, if you don’t see me there you will see somebody from this ministry or many of our state ministers.
“Neighbours and the teachers are the ones we should enlighten, including the media so that when a child is being maltreated and looking down, from the expression you would know, teachers should take note, ask the child questions, and report back. So, we need a lot of enlightenment and sensitization on this issue.
“I am urging parents don’t have children you cannot train, this is part of why the children are suffering. It’s very unfair and very bad, that you will have children you cannot train and then you subject them to so many sufferings, even some of them when they give out their children to help others. They don’t even look out to know whether that child is okay or not. I know some that are even alive and they adopted their kids to other people simply because they are lazy.
“They can’t work so I’m telling them to up their games, work hard, even if you’re roasting corn, there is joy in it and you can make money just cut your coat according to your size and take care of your children don’t go and have twelve, using them as bait that one day one of them will grow up to start taking care of you. Some of them could equally die in the process of suffering. So I plead with them to have as many children as you can train.”
She said the Children’s party was organised to unwind with children in Abuja and would be replicated in other states as well to bring the children closer.
She said the party was not going to be one but as long as she is the Minister, she would be meeting with children as often as possible.
