This article from the Sun News Online was seen via a Google alert. It mentions language. DZO
ENDANGERED SPECIES! Nigerian children are truly hungry, says Child World Foundation boss http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/living/2006/aug/05/living-05-08-2006-002.htm By `TUNDE OYELEYE Saturday, August 5, 2006 A family-oriented preacher has challenged governments to salvage the future of Nigerian children by entrenching policies to favour them. Dr Gideon Akinremi, who heads Nigerian mission of Child World Foundation in Amsterdam, told Saturday Sun that without a deliberate agenda to secure the future of children, the nation can never emerge from the woods. "It is unfortunate that there is never a clear cut policy for the Nigerian child. No political party ever comes up to draw a policy to help the child in Nigeria. Politicians are experts at making frivolous promises which they never fulfill. So, how can they remember the child? The Nigerian child is hungry on all fronts and we all know this", he said. Akinremi said the only way out was for the government to wake to its responsibilities. "The youths are our future, not political parties that comes up and die anyhow. Right from the local government, the state and federal, the various strata of government need to put in place policies that would enhance the growth (in the right direction) of the child as done elsewhere in the world. For instance, what is the government written view of child abuse, child labour, slavery etc? What is the penalty for those caught and found guilty? How many of such have been dealt with so far to the knowledge of the public? The rules need to be spelt out for all to know and duly enforced. There is no doubt that the Nigeria child is almost on the verge of complete moral destruction due primarily to gross neglect of traditional moral instructions and negative western influence on them through the internet, foreign movies and other means of mass communication", he said. Global threat The child is gradually drawn away from morality by increasing modern technologies, "It is pathetic. It is demoralising and embarrassing yet the rate is on the increase and the absurdity on the leap. You can notice the dramatic way our youths have changed in behaviours within the past ten years. Everything that has to do with morals, traditional teachings and the beautiful African language has given way to Western culture. Had it been it has to do with their good side, it would have paid off well but the reverse is the case. I once studied in Europe and have been to America several times. I have seen their good sides, which unfortunately, the mass media never projected to us". Negative impact He said Nigerian children have been held hostage by movies. "Western movies and internet chit-chats which they are daily exposed to outside the school have negatively impacted on them that they confidently reply their elders and even parents to keep off when corrected. Haven't you heard of children saying, `Dad mind your business'? To the Nigeria child, he said, the internet is like a spider's web for an unsuspecting fly or insects. Added to this horror is the craze by the local movie producers to beat the West to their game of immorality, he added. By immorality, Akinremi does not only mean fornication, but manners of dressing, of speech, language, lack of respect for culture and tradition and most importantly, the missing fear of God which Africans are known for. "Since the fear of God has fled from mankind, Godly wisdom too has disappeared, allowing for Western world views and satanic wisdom to take over the world children and youths". He blamed the Film Censors Board for doing virtually nothing about the influx of foreign movies into the Nigerian market. "It is no wonder you find children openly kissing one another, thereby laying the foundation of immorality that has produced several child-mothers among us". Child NGO To further curb the problem, he advocated government support for children-oriented non-governmental organisations. "The HIV/AIDS and other NGOs get support from government, why not NGO concerned with child training? It is better and cheaper to prevent HIV/AIDS than to cure it as it is easier to build the child into a glorious future than build prison yards and construct gallows". Principally, Akinremi said, the morally problem among the youths can be traced to lack of parental care. "Carelessness, on the part of parents, should consciously be put aside to safe-guard the future of their wards. No housemaid or anyone else can take care of your child like you do or desire. Watch their steps, actions and quickly correct errors. It is no wickedness to correct a child with the cane and other corporal punishment", he cautioned. **************************** Disclaimer **************************** Copyright: In accordance with Title 17, United States Code Section 107, this material is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material posted to this list for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Content: The sender does not vouch for the veracity nor the accuracy of the contents of this message, which are the sole responsibility of the copyright owner. Also, the sender does not necessarily agree or disagree with any opinions that are expressed in this message. ******************************************************************** Yahoo! 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