Hope For a Better Tomorrow
The Comet Newspaper
June 27, 2004

The African child is faced with so many challenges such as diseases, devastating poverty and inadequate education.

The African child should be protected from the ravages of man-made and natural disasters and also to prepare the African child for responsible life in a free society. It was for this purpose that the Day of the African Child was set up. Historically, the day is observed on June 16th. In 1991, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) organized the first celebration in memory of black South African school children who were massacred in Soweto on June 16 1976 for demanding their right to be taught in their own language. 

The day also draws attention to the lives of the African children today. This year's world theme is "Popularizing the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child," Article I1 which centers on educating and promoting the child's personality, talents, mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential formed the basis for the sub-theme. 

The sub-theme is "I have a dream: equipping young people to set and achieve life goals." 

Provision of education and encouragement of goals and goal-setting for the African child will help prepare the child for future challenges. 

Action Health Incorporated (AHI) commemorated the Day in its Lagos Office with students invited from different secondary schools. 

Oyebanji Aminat, a student of Igbobi Girls High School, recited a poem on the African child. The qualities of the African child include; black colour, white teeth, black and curly hair, from a race that is truly blessed and is truly different from the rest. Finally, he is always ready to face challenges and overcome it. One of the ways to face challenges and overcome it is for young persons to set goals, work towards realizing such goals, thereby becoming responsible adults. Goals according to one of the resource persons, Mrs. Tayo Amodu, could either be long term or short term. Short term is something you've set out to do within a short- period while long term is something you've set out to do within a long period. Characteristics of good goals include: S- Specific- knowing exactly what you want M- Measurable; how far have you gone at each point in realizing your goals? A-Achievable; Is your goal achievable? Having a goal and the ability to accomplish such goals make it achievable. R- Realistic; how realistic are your goals? T- Time bound; the period or time it will take you to realize your goals. 

Truly, young ones have a dream which they intend to achieve but they need to be equipped spiritually, physically, mentally, financially etc. to realize their goals. The environment must also be conducive for them to make these goals achievable. Other topics discussed included obstacles in achieving such goals. 

Other side attractions include; song presentation by Igbobi Junior High School, titled: AIDS is real and it can kill, let Us help to stop the spread. Students of Mainland High School also gave a song rendition titled; Children are the future leaders of tomorrow. 

The students will not forget that day because they were better informed on the need for them to have set goals and work towards achieving such goals. 

Shola Martins, a student of Mainland High School, said, "I am better informed on how important it is to have a set goal and ensure it is being achieved rather than working aimlessly".