From Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is committed to positive parenting for all children as only that can allow for care and love for their better upbringing.
UNICEF stated this at a two-day training for stakeholders, malams and owners of Qur’anic schools in Sokoto organized by the Sokoto State Arabic and Islamic Commission in collaboration with UNICEF and funded by the European Union.
Mr Pius Uwamanua, who is the Sokoto UNCEF Office, Child Protection Specialist, said they have had series of activities with Arabic and Islamic commission in Sokoto as those capable of cascading the message and essence of positive parenting.
He said: “We want our almajiri pupils and every other child to know what care and love means, especially from their parents, which was why the theme for the training is, “Child Protection and Child Safeguarding Policy.”
While noting that, the manual of the training will be translated into Huasa language for proper understanding for the stakeholders, Uwamanua urged them to actively participate in the training towards achieving the desired objectives.
Speaking earlier, Executive Secretary, Sokoto State Arabic and Islamic Commission, Ahmed Baba Alitine, said people should be able to know the difference between who is an Almajiri and destitutes or displaced by legions of reasons roaming about the streets for alms.
While calling on all and sundry, especially the malams and Qu’ranic teachers as well as parents to come together and help correct the negative narration about almajiri being beggars, Altine called for properly planning as a sure way to achieve that.
Speaking on, “Child Rights, Child Protection and Child Justice Administration, the facilitator, Prof Umar Alkali, reminded participants of the contents of the 2021 Sokoto State Child Protection Law, which upholds parental guidance, protection, direction, reasonable supervision and control, amongst others.
Prof Alkali further noted that Islamic law has adequate provisions for child protection ranging from those “captured in the Sunna (traditions of the Prophet, SAW) and elaborated in the scholarly writings of Islamic jurists.”
He reminded the participants that the child’s rights also include legal protection, non-legal measures, moral responsibility as well as emphasis on natural family and reciprocity of rights and duties.
“By combining the influences of law, religion and ethics, Islamic law is able to put forward a multi-dimensional approach covering the total personality of the child,” Prof Alkali submitted.
Earlier in his welcome address, a Director in the Arabic Commission and UNICEF Focal Person, Malam Abubakar Alhaji disclosed that the training had 99 participants drawn from 8 local government areas of Sokoto State.
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