13th December, 2022, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, OFR, KSG has officially inaugurated the newest parliament and presented the Speaker of the 7th National Children’s Parliament to run the affairs of the body for the next 3 years with symbol of Authority.
The day before, on the 12th of December, the Permanent Secretary of Federal Minister of Women Affairs, Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Shinkafi (FCNA) described the 7th National Children’s Parliament as a platform for children to have the opportunity to express their view, influence decision making and achieve change.
Shinkafi stated this when he was opening the technical session for the election of Nigeria Children’s Parliament (NCP), an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs at Sandralina Hotel, Jabi, Abuja on 12th December, 2022.
A statement signed by the Director, Press & Public Relations Olujimi Oyetomi stated that It was an event to promote child participation rights towards the democratic advancement of the country as well as developing their leadership skills and self-esteem.
The Perm Sec informed the gathering that the event is in line one of the core principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which asserts that children and young people have the right to freely express their views.
He stated that it is obligated on adult and policy makers to listen to children’s views and facilitate their participation in all matters affecting them in accordance with the law.
Represented at the event by the Director, Economic Services, Mr, Idris Mohammed, he thanked the Honourable Minister, Dame K. Pauline Tallen, OFR, KSG for her efforts and determination to ensure the inauguration of the 7th Parliament as the tenure of the 6th National Children’s Parliament which was inaugurated in May, 2018 has come to an end.
He equally congratulated members elect from the States for participating in the election of the Principals of the 7th National Children’s Parliament.
He said as the Ministry is organizing the election in collaboration with the Save the Children International, he urged the electoral committee to conduct the exercise in accordance with the Constitution and Standing Orders of the Nigerian Children’s Parliament.
Mr. Ali Andrew Madugu, the Director, Child Development, who also spoke at the event, disclosed that the Parliament is guided by rules and procedures.
He further said that as the Parliament runs for 3years and as the current Parliament’s tenure winds down, necessitated the election and the inauguration of new Principal officers that will steer the ship of the 7th National Children’s Parliament.
He expressed his joy on the efforts of the current Executives to move the Parliament forward and in making sure that voice of the children in respective of their status are heard.
At the event, there were admonitions to children on “Self Esteem and Leadership” given by Maryam Tallon (a resource person) and a brief on “Nigeria Children’s Parliament” by Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
The motion for technical session was set with a presentation from a resource person from Play Back Nigeria which centred on “Roles and responsibilities of the members of the Nigeria Children Parliament”.
This was followed by another delivery by Maryam Tallon which was on the “Roles and responsibilities of the members of the Nigeria Children Parliament”. The session also contained, General discussion and presentations of Manifestoes and reports from children parliamentarians across the country.
