Parents and Children’s Awareness and Knowledge of Child Rights Act and Its Application on Children in Nigeria

  • T. Oluwaseun Lawal Obafemi Awolowo University
  • Hannah Olubunmi Ajayi Obafemi Awolowo University
Keywords: Parental Awareness, Knowledge, Child Rights Act, Application, Children, Ethnic Groups

Abstract

The study assessed the level of awareness and knowledge of parents and children in the Child Rights Act and determined the level of implementation of Child Rights. The study adopted a survey research design. The population consisted of parents from the major three ethnic groups (Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba) in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The multi-stage sampling procedure was employed for the study. The sample size consisted of 120 parents and 120 children. Two self-designed instruments were administered on the participants. Three research questions were answered and two hypotheses tested. The data obtained were analyzed using frequency count, percentage, and One- Way ANOVA. The results revealed that (51.7%) of parents and (53.3%) of children were aware of the Child Rights Act. It further revealed that 76.7% of parents had a high level of knowledge of Child Rights. It also revealed the level of implementation of some specific rights by the parents. Also, the results revealed that there was a significant difference between the level of awareness and knowledge of parents based on their various tribes at 0.05 significant level(p<0.5). The findings provided information on aspects of child rights that parents need to pay more attention to so as not to deny the children of the rights.

Author Biography

T. Oluwaseun Lawal, Obafemi Awolowo University

Lawal Oluwaseun T. is currently a Ph. D student of Early Childhood Education at the Institute of Education.

References

Ademola, LA, Iluma, TR, Godspower, TS, Peters, ME, Evin, S, Opukiri, J et.al. (2017). Achievements and Implications of Care and Support Programme among Orphans and Vulnerable Children: A Systematic Evaluation of HAF II Project in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Science, 5(2) 64 - 69. 
 
Akor G (2009). Nigeria: Child's Right Abuse- Product of Inefficient Leadership. Retrieved from http://allafrica.com/stories/200910201191.html.
 
Akwara AF, Soyibo AG & Agba, MS (2010). Law and Children's Rights Protection: The Nexus for a Sustainable Development in Nigeria. Canadian Social Science. 6(2), 26-33.
Google Scholar
 
Braimah, TS (2014). Child marriage in Northern Nigeria: Section 61 of Part I of the 1999 Constitution and the protection of children against child marriage. African Human Rights Law Journal, 14 Ahrlj 474-48 8.
Crossref
 
Covell K & Howe RB (1999). The impact of children's rights education: A Canadian Study. Int. J.Children's Rights. 7:171-183.
Crossref
 
Edeh, S (2017). Child Abuse Prevalent in all Nigeria's 36 States - UNICEF. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/05/.
 
Eze, UO (2013). Prevention of Sexual Assault in Nigeria. Annals of Ibadan Postgraduate Medicine, 11 (2), 65 - 70.
Google Scholar
 
Falae, V (2018). Violence against children in Nigeria: how to protect our kids? https://www.legit.ng/1128721-violence-children-nigeria-protect-kids.html


Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN2003). A bill for an act to provide and protect the right of the Nigerian child and other related matters, 2003.
 
Folayan, M. O., Odetoyinbo, M., Harrison, A. & Brown, B. (2014). Rape in Nigeria: a silent epidemic among adolescents with implications for HIV infection. Global Health Action. 7
Crossref
 
Gill, V (1996). Children Should be Seen and not Heard: The Production and Transgression of Adults' Public Space. Journal Urban Geography, 17(3), 205 - 220, Published online: 15 May 2013. https://doi.org/10.2747/0272-3638.17.3.205
Crossref
 
Lagos State of Nigeria (2008). Child's Rights Law 2007. Lagos State of Nigeria Official Gazette Extraordinary No. 22, Vol. 41 of 25th March 2008.
 
Moore, J. (2014). Nigeria Prepares to Treat Rape, Sexual Trauma of Kidnapped School Girls. BuzzFeed News World Correspondent, May 29, 2014. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jinamoore/nigeria-prepares-to-treat-rape-sexual-trauma-of-kidnapped-sc.
 
Muuya, J (2002). Aim of special education. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 17(3), 229-239.
Crossref
  
Njoku G & Oladiji S (2009). Calling on 15 states left to protect their children. THIS DAY: Retrieved from http://allafrica.com/stories/200911240582.html
 
Nwosu, EN, Nwakaego, IA, Eseadi, C, Arinola, AH, Abah, JI & Asogwa, DE (2015).Counseling Needs of Parents for Increased Awareness of Child's Rights Act in Nigeria. Buletin Teknol. Tanaman,12, 249 - 253.
Google Scholar
 
Obokoh, A. (2019). Nigeria's Child Rights Act implementation less than 20%. Business Day Nigeria. November 21, https://businessday.ng/news/article/nigerias-child-rights-act-implementation-less-than-20.
 
Ojebiyi, WG, Ashimolowo, OR., Banmeke, TOA., & Ariyo, AM (2016). Societal awareness of the child rights act among rural and urban dwellers in Ogun State. Journal of Humanities, Social Science and Creative Arts, 11 (1 & 2), 14 - 25.
Google Scholar
 
Okoye, U. O. (2011). Knowledge and awareness of the child's rights act among residents of a university town in Enugu State, Nigeria. Education Research, 2(10), 1591 - 1601. http://www.interesjournals.org/ER.
Google Scholar
 
Oladiji, S. (2019). UNICEF challenge families on implementation of Child Rights Act. PM News, Friday, May 17, 2019. https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/05/17/unicef-challenge-families-on-implementation-of-child-rights-act.
 
Olumodeji,EO (2008). Theoretical Issues in Child's Rights. Department of Sociology, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
Google Scholar
 
Osagie, E (2014). UNICEF: Birth registration is right of every child. The Nation. https://thenationonlineng.net/unicef-birth-registration-is-right-of-every-child.
 
Oyero, O. (2011). Information sources and awareness of level of child rights in Lagos State, Nigeria. The Communication Review. 5(1), 86 -118.
Google Scholar
 
Segun - Bello, M. (2018). Child Rights Act: Magistrate Urges Nigerians to Develop will for Implementation. The Vanguard. February 19, 2018. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/02/child-rights-act-magistrate-urges-nigerians-develop-will-implementation.
 
Tyoakaa, LM, Amaka, JI & Nor, A (2014). Problems and Challenges of Girl-Child Education in Nigeria: The Situation of Kalgo Local Government Area (L.G.A) of Kebbi State. Journal of Research & Method in Education, 4(4), 1 - 5. www.iosrjournals.com.
Crossref
 
United Nations (UN). July 2007. United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Nigeria. "Information Sheet: Birth Registration." [Accessed 15 May 2019]
 
UNICEF (2011). UNICEF Nigeria - Fact Sheet: Child Rights legislation in Nigeria.
 
UNICEF (2013). Children's Rights in Impact Assessments: A Guide for Integrating Children's Rights into Impact Assessments and Taking Action for Children. The Danish Institute for Human Rights. Copenhagen.
 
Vanguard News (2017). Oyo women lawyers hail State's child rights law, want enforcement. https://www.vanguardngr.com.


Total number of hits on abstract = 901 times

Downloads for 2025

Download data is not yet available.
Published
2020-06-10
How to Cite
Lawal, T., & Ajayi, H. (2020, June 10). Parents and Children’s Awareness and Knowledge of Child Rights Act and Its Application on Children in Nigeria. ANNUAL JOURNAL OF TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF VARNA, BULGARIA, 4(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.29114/ajtuv.vol4.iss1.127
Bookmark and Share