By Beloved I. Olasunkanmi
CHILDREN’S DAY is celebrated every 27th of May. It is an event celebrated world-wide for all children across ages, tribes and countries.
The day was first established in 1954 as a global children’s day and celebrated to mark the birthday anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister, the late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
The day reminds us that children are the future and encourages us to slow down and pay more attention to the children in our lives.
Why Celebrate?
So, why do we celebrate children? We celebrate them because there is a wonderful way of supporting, and connection between children and adults.
In Nigeria, the first Children’s Day was observed in 1950 across the country on a day created by the Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo during which he marked the day with some selected children back then.
Children’s Rights
Then, we need to ask, what is the right of a child? An average child has the right to the basic needs of life such as best health care, portable water to drink, healthy food to eat, a safe place to live as well as a conducive environment to thrive in. That’s few of the reasons Children’s Day is a day that marks the joy of childhood.
It is also for the importance that children hold in life that another day, the Universal Children’s Day is also celebrated on the 20th November of every year to promote international togetherness and improve children’s welfare.
This particular day is set as a special day to honour and recognize children and to advocate for their protection and happiness across the world.
Beloved I. Olasunkanmi is a young writer and a student based in Akure, Ondo State.
