By Matthew Eloyi
The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has said that the only way to guarantee the long-term peace and prosperity of the country is to invest in children by providing opportunities for them to thrive and be productive within their chosen paths, thereby giving them hope for a better future.
Osinbajo stated this on Thursday during the Stakeholders Summit of the At-Risk Children Programme (ARC-P) at the Statehouse Banquet Hall, Abuja.
He noted that the Federal Government has taken a multi-dimensional approach in addressing the challenges faced by the vulnerable in society, especially children and young people, nationwide, with various intervention programmes.
These, he said, include the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy Committee, which was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari with the objective of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years. The At-Risk-Children Programme (ARC-P), domiciled in the Office of the Vice President, is one of the initiatives of the Committee.
Speaking at the event themed ‘Last Mile interventions for the Vulnerable’, Prof. Osinbajo noted that the Programme “is the beginning of a journey to give succour and hope to millions of vulnerable young people.”
“The ARC-P is an important component of the variety of government interventions designed to complement and support existing initiatives of the Buhari administration in dealing with the problems of vulnerable children and young people,” the VP said.
Prof. Osinbajo noted that the central purpose of the At-Risk Children Programme is the idea that every Nigerian child counts, noting that the ARC – P “is aimed at giving a new lease of life to millions of children, who, through no fault of theirs, have found themselves without hope or support.”
“A nation will be measured ultimately by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens. We recognize that we cannot make progress as a people, while a significant population of our children – those to whom the future belongs – are left on the margins of society, deprived of the opportunity to discover and fulfill their potential,” he stated.
The VP added that the Programme “will provide a safe space for the mentoring and training of these children, with a specific emphasis on basic literacy and numeracy, health and nutrition, entrepreneurial skills, digital skills, sports and life-skills, among other skills.”