President Muhammadu Buhari has challenged parents to treat their children with dignity, while staying focused on discipline.

The president gave the challenge in a statement by his media aide, Femi Adesina, on Saturday in Abuja to mark 2023 Children’s Day.

He said: “Every child is special and should be specially treated with dignity.

“At the twilight of this administration, we are thankful for all the support we have received from parents, government officials, development partners, professionals, and religious leaders in realising some of our targets.”

He said the targets included the school feeding programme, resuscitation of the primary health care system, and protecting our schools by the security agencies.

He noted that raising healthy and promising children was a collective responsibility, saying in Nigeria, like in most of Africa, the community had a stake in the upbringing of the child.

”Our core values of integrity, honesty, hard work, and love for learning should not be negotiated.

”Our children should know, and stay with the ancient landmarks of what is true, and right at home, and abroad.

”As a father and grandfather, I share in the joy that children bring into our lives, and the fulfillment of seeing them grow.

”And I also feel the pain of loss, anxiety, and frustration that comes with uncertain times, like the disruptions to families due to insecurity, which we have worked hard to contain in the last eight years,” the president said.

Nonetheless, Mr Buhari said Nigerians must not lose hope in the government’s ability to safeguard children’s future.

”In eight years, we have focused on children, negotiating and fighting for the release of many that were taken captive, and painstakingly building intelligence on the whereabouts of others.

”Some have been released; more will come, by God’s grace, as the next administration continues on the same noble path.”

The president noted that efforts should be geared towards putting building blocks that will sustain unity, peace and prosperity for the sake of the children.

“Happy Children’s Day, and God bless our children,’’ he concluded. 

(NAN)