“African children have the worst life chances in the world,” according to a former Organisation of African Unity Secretary-General Salim Ahmed Salim, who spoke at a Pan-African Forum for Children in May 2001. “And the gap between the survival rates, the education, and the development of Africa’s children and the children of other continents is increasing,” he added
Unfortunately, more than two decades after Salim made the above statement, things have not really changed for the better, rather they are getting worse with many staggering indices confirming.
Across the streets of Lagos, Nigeria’s capital and one of Africa’s major economic hubs, the plight of the African child stares one in the face. From Oshodi to Mile 2, Mushin, Bariga, Ipaja, to Ayobo, children of school age are increasingly playing the role of breadwinners, learning in dysfunctional academic environments, as well as living under conditions that even animals should not be tended to.
Scenarios recorded in far-flung parts of the country are at best disheartening with many children displaced and orphaned as a result of insurgency. And the statistics bear grim witness to the plight of African children.
Despite the African child being disadvantaged and bogged down by challenges that children in most other continents rarely grapple with, he or she is still being expected to compete favourably against peers from other parts of a world that now operates as a global village.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that Africa’s child population will reach one billion by 2055, making it the largest child population among all continents, but based on the country’s continuation of current coverage, more than 300 million of Africa’s 730 million projected births through 2030 will not be attended by skilled health personal.
In Africa according to UNICEF, mortality rates among children under age five decreased by 58 per cent between 1990 and 2017, still, over half of the world’s 5.4 million under-five deaths in 2017 occurred in the continent.
While mortality rates have declined among all age groups in Africa, child deaths tend to be concentrated in the youngest age groups with 85 percent of all deaths to children under age 15 occurring among children younger than 5.
In 2016, pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhea accounted for 36 percent of all under-five deaths in Africa and the statistics have not changed much.
Based on current trends, 31 million under-five deaths will occur in Africa between 2018 and 2030—if all countries are at risk of missing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target on under-five mortality achieved the target, eight million lives could be saved on the continent.
Variants of child abuse across the country
UNICEF further said that changing demographics and a growing population in Africa will require an additional 4.2 million health workers above current growth to meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) minimum standards, and an increase of 1.3 million primary school teachers to meet the best sub-regional performers’ pupil-teacher ratio by 2030. But in the last three years, there has been a mass movement of skilled workers from Africa to Europe and America with health personnel leading the pack.
Still, according to UNICEF, the under-five mortality rate in Africa declined by 58 percent from 1990 to 2017, while mortality among older children and young adolescents (aged 5-14) in Africa declined by 54 percent over the same period.
Africa, UNICEF added, will need to add a million more health workers and primary school teachers by 2030 to meet the demands of shifting demographics.
In Nigeria and like in many sub-Saharan African countries, more than 36,000 child victims of violence, including 5,693 survivors of sexual violence (16 percent), were identified and documented in seven states since 2017. But very few of those cases made it to the courtrooms, let alone resulted in justice for child victims.
At the same time, the number of children awaiting trial for what are often petty crimes is estimated to be more than 1,000–with children often held in detention with adults and in conditions that no child should live in.
All the negative statistics keep pinning down the African child even though since 1991, the African Union Assembly passed a resolution designating June 16 as a day for the celebration of the African child. And the day is meant not just to commemorate black children killed during the Soweto uprising in South Africa in 1976, the Day of the African Child is also used to raise awareness for the need to improve issues around children living across Africa.
Commenting on how African leaders are failing the African Child, as confirmed by negative statistics abound in the area of health, education, and welfare just to mention a few, the Programme Officer, Human Development Initiatives (HDI), Mr. Samuel Ajayi, stated that with an increase of 8.4 million children in child labour worldwide most of whom are from developing countries, the evidence of governance failure is staggering.
He noted that it began with increasing household poverty and inequalities that are induced by multiple factors, but largely due to poor policy responses of government to both global and local crises.
“Inflation in Nigeria is now over 22 percent induced by terrorism attacks affecting local food security and revenue generation across the country, global factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, global oil crises including the Russia-Ukraine war.”
He further said that government policy responses or inaction to these crises in Nigeria have worsened the fate of the average Nigeria child through corruption, leakages in revenue, lack of innovation and political will to effectively implement people-oriented policies, especially those targeting reducing household poverty, stemming insecurity, improving the quality of education, health service delivery, housing, child-friendly transportation system, and fulfilling the basic human needs. In all of the crises experienced children have been the biggest casualties.”
Ajayi observed that despite the negative statistics, some African children have defied all the negative profiles of the socio-economic environment to become great and powerful people in the world though very few.
“However, their pathway to stardom is difficult to replicate because of the high level of uncertainty and luck that shaped them; not many children can survive it. Therefore, the negative statistics reduce the chances of most African children to dream and attain their full potential. As a matter of right and morality, African children deserve interventions that will increase opportunities, success certainty, and less luck as we have seen in developed countries.”
On specific ways that African leaders have worsened the plight of the African child, Ajayi mentioned low priority on capacity development, and poor investment in quality health, education, housing, and water.
“Nigeria has done well in setting aside two percent of the consolidated revenue fund to equip basic education in Nigeria and virtually all states government is accessing this fund. However, the general investment in education is still below the global standard for education financing, which is between 15 to 20 percent of the national capital expenditure.
“Nevertheless, the return on investment in basic education is below the value in terms of the current state of education infrastructure, human capacity, and quality of learning outcomes due to corruption. Similarly, the current curricula and pedagogy from the basic to tertiary levels are still outdated and have contributed to poor learning outcomes.
“Consequently, the quality of education that children are receiving in Nigeria today has no bearing on the local content and development needs, let alone the global trend. These challenges are significantly contributing to school drop-out rates, the increasing number of out-of-school children, and the festering of cybercrime among school children.”
The Project Officer, Festus Fajemilo Foundation, Abimbola Janet Adekuoroye, thinks that despite the passage of time, the typical African child continues to experience consequences of failures from African leaders.
“A conscientious observation of most African countries will show that poor leadership is a root problem that has impeded growth and fulfilling lives for the African child. It is no longer news how certain African leaders will insist on retaining power for several years and not give way to younger generations due to greed while eluding accountability processes.
“The statistics about African children are underwhelming and are well documented. Current trends have shown that 31 million under-five deaths will occur in Africa between 2018 – 2030. However, if all countries at risk achieve the SDG target on under-five mortality, eight million lives could be saved in Africa.”
On specific ways that African leaders worsen the plight of the African child, Adekuoroye listed poor governance, low accountability, inefficient monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for development processes, and weak social protection systems for vulnerable children. It is also a known fact that Africa has the worst social protection coverage at 17.4 percent compared to other continents.”
Even though Adekuoroye admits that no case is irredeemable, she stressed that African leaders need a paradigm shift from the state of consumption to production.
On her part, the Executive Director of First Future Leadership, Adeola Awogbemi, said that the Day of the African Child serves as a powerful reminder of the challenges faced by children across the continent and a call to action.
She, therefore, urged African leaders to confront the failures in safeguarding the African child by prioritising health, education, protection, and comprehensive social welfare systems, which could help bridge the gaps and create an enabling environment for the African child to thrive.
“Healthcare is a fundamental right for every child, yet African leaders have struggled to provide adequate access to quality healthcare services. Statistics reveal alarming rates of child mortality, malnutrition, and the prevalence of diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS. Insufficient investment in healthcare infrastructure, limited access to clean water and sanitation, and lack of preventative measures contribute to the persisting health crisis among African children.
“Education is the key to empowering future generations, but African leaders have fallen short in ensuring universal access to quality education. Many African children still face barriers such as limited school infrastructure, inadequate resources, and a shortage of qualified teachers. The high rates of illiteracy and dropout rates highlight the persistent gaps in educational opportunities for African children, hindering their ability to reach their full potential and contribute to society.
She continued: “Armed conflict and displacement have disproportionately affected many African countries, particularly in conflicts, civil unrest, and displacement. In war-torn regions, children have become victims of violence, recruitment by armed groups, and sexual exploitation.
“Lack of comprehensive social welfare systems further aggravates the challenges faced by African children. Insufficient investment in social protection programmes, including child welfare services, foster care, and adoption systems, leaves vulnerable children without necessary support networks,” she stated.
Awogbemi noted that addressing the challenges faced by the African child requires a multifaceted approach involving African leaders, civil society organisations, international partners, and communities, adding that African leaders must prioritise child-centric policies, allocate adequate resources, enhance governance, and accountability, and ensure the effective implementation of child rights frameworks, by investing in the health, education, and overall well-being of African children. leaders can secure a brighter future for the continent.
Awogbemi noted that the negative statistics portend a challenging future if immediate action is not taken because if the challenges persist, there will be severe consequences for the African child and the continent as a whole.
“The Lack of access to basic rights such as education and health will hinder the potential for growth and development, which will ultimately impact the African child’s ability to contribute meaningfully to society, participate in the economy, and drive progress in their communities. This will further enable a cycle of poverty, which continues to hamper economic growth and perpetuates poverty across generations.
“Also, children from marginalised communities and vulnerable backgrounds face additional barriers and discrimination, further limiting their opportunities for advancement. This not only impacts the individuals but also widens the gap between different segments of society, exacerbating social divisions and hindering overall development. Achieving sustainable development goals becomes increasingly challenging when the well-being of the African child is compromised.”
She that African leaders contribute to the worsening plight of the African child through inadequate investment in education resulting in limited access to quality education, inadequate school facilities, and a shortage of qualified teachers.
“The lack of investment perpetuates high illiteracy rates and hinders the development of necessary skills for the African child’s future success. African leaders often allocate inadequate budgets for healthcare systems, leading to limited access to essential healthcare services for children and contributing to high child mortality rates, the prevalence of diseases, and inadequate nutrition.
“African leaders’ failure to develop and enforce comprehensive child protection policies leaves children vulnerable to various forms of exploitation and abuse. Inadequate response to conflicts and displacement: The failure to address conflicts, provide adequate protection, and ensure access to education and healthcare for displaced children perpetuates their vulnerability, leaving them susceptible to violence, exploitation, and loss of opportunities.
“By excluding youth from policy discussions and failing to create platforms for their active participation, leaders miss out on valuable insights and innovative solutions to address the challenges faced by the African child. This lack of youth engagement further marginalises young people and limits their opportunities for meaningful contribution and empowerment.”
Awogbemi observed that the prevalent conditions on the continent of Africa have a significant impact on the preparedness of the African child for a competitive global workplace.
She, therefore, said that addressing the challenges requires a comprehensive approach involving investment in education, technical and vocational training, technological infrastructure, entrepreneurship support, research and development, and efforts to reduce social and economic inequalities.
By prioritising these areas, she said that African countries could equip the African child with the necessary skills, knowledge, and opportunities to thrive in a competitive global workplace.
Astonishingly, while many African leaders are not at present providing a conducive environment for the African child to thrive, they are acquiring and leaving behind huge debt for this generation and those unborn, does the case look irredeemable?
Awogbemi emphasized that while the situation may seem challenging, the case is not necessarily irredeemable, although African leaders are leaving behind significant debt that can have serious consequences for the current and future generations.
“African leaders can focus on diversifying their economies and promoting sustainable development strategies. By reducing reliance on single sectors or commodities and fostering a diversified economy, countries can enhance their revenue streams, reduce vulnerability to economic shocks, and generate resources to invest in the well-being and future of the African child.”
She said that investing in education and skills development is crucial to empowering the African child and breaking cycles of poverty and debt. “By prioritizing quality education and vocational training programs, leaders can equip young people with the skills and knowledge they need to secure sustainable livelihoods, contribute to economic growth, and make informed decisions for the future.”
Awogbemi, who described as critical, youth engagement and participation in decision-making added that by “involving young people in discussions on economic development, debt management, and sustainable practices, leaders can ensure their perspectives are heard and incorporated into strategies for a brighter future.”
She also said that collaboration with international organisations, multilateral institutions, and donor countries can play a significant role in mitigating the burden of debt.
“Initiatives such as debt relief programs, restructuring agreements, and financial support for development projects can help alleviate the country’s debt burden and provide African countries with more resources to invest in critical areas such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure.”
This year’s celebration of African Child Day is built around technology with “The Rights of the Child in the Digital Environment” as the theme.
According to a UNICEF report published in 2020, as little as one percent of children living in the poorest quintiles of West and Central Africa have access to the Internet. The report further revealed that only five percent of children and young people aged 25 years or less and just 13 percent in Eastern and Southern Africa have Internet access at home, compared to 59 percent in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
No wonder, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) said that the digital divides mirror broader socio-economic divides between the rich and the poor, men and women, cities and rural areas, and between those with education and those without.
ACERWC acknowledged that the Internet has provided invaluable opportunities for the realisation of children’s fundamental rights and freedoms such as the right to education, freedom of expression, and freedom of association, among others.
It stated that access to the Internet has also ensured that some children still have access to these rights in the event of emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
“However, the ACERWC notes that lack of access to the Internet remains a primary challenge to children meaningfully participating in the digital sphere
“The ACERWC notes that lack of access to the Internet impedes children’s rights such as education, freedom of expression, freedom of association, and the right to play, among others. Despite these challenges, the ACERWC notes that only a few African countries have scaled up digital access, and many children.
The Guardian
