Anambra state government says it will embark on the arrest of children…

Anambra state government says it will embark on the arrest of children who hawk during school hours in the state by September, this year. The Commissioner for Social Welfare, Child and Women Affairs, Dr. Victoria Chikwelu, made this known in an event to mark the Day of the African Child in Awka.

Dr. Chikwelu warned parents of the dire consequences of allowing their children to engage in the act since the State Government had declared free education from primary to junior secondary schools in the state. She called on husbands to give adequate protection to children in their homes against any form of maltreatment from their wives.

The Health Commissioner also appealed to the heads of various levels of education in the country not to compromise the standard of education to enable children to obtain the best of education. The Speaker of the Children’s Parliament in the State, Edden-Rex Abara, called for equal opportunities to accessing education among the children in the country. Another child, Chukwujekwu Ilechukwu, commended the Federal Government’s School Feeding programme and called on various levels of governments to protect children against abuse and maltreatment from the society.

The event featured road show, reading of news, cultural display and drama presentation from children.

KEVIN EKEDIEGWU