CRCi, NBA, FIDA Partner to Promote Reading Culture, Children’s Rights in Rivers

The Funmi Ogundare Children Reading for a Change Initiative (CRCi) recently teamed up with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), specifically its Degema branch, and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) to launch a campaign aimed at fostering a reading culture and educating children about their fundamental human rights in Rivers State.

The 'Reading Children, Empowered Community' initiative, the first of three planned in the Degema, Asari-Toru and Akuku-Toru Local Government Areas, took place at the Degema Local Government council office complex. The event attracted around 400 pupils, students and parents, marking a significant step in the CRCi's journey to promote literacy and awareness of children's rights.

The campaign, which was approved by the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), featured educational sessions on the value of reading, academic excellence, and the protection of women and children against abuse. CRCi also presented its newly released book, 'The Village Boy and His Computer', to over 200 pupils and students, while distributing 1,000 CRCi and NBA-branded exercise books, 250 water bottles, plastic rulers, pens and pencils.

Opiribo Amachree, the CRCi convener, highlighted the importance of cultivating children's reading habits, promoting academic success, and granting access to educational resources. He noted that CRCi had independently obtained approval to carry out its reading initiatives across the three local government areas, including the 'openbook campaign', reading clubs, book donations and sponsorship programmes.

Amachree also announced that NBA and FIDA would collaborate to establish reading and book clubs, as well as human rights clubs, in schools across the local governments. These clubs will provide weekly engagement opportunities to encourage students' interest in reading, enhance their learning outcomes and empower them to speak up when their rights are violated.

According to Amachree, the initiative aims to bridge literacy development and child protection by equipping pupils and students with the knowledge and tools needed to become informed, confident and empowered members of their communities. Human rights lawyers from NBA Degema branch and FIDA sensitized the children and women on their fundamental rights, using the United Nations convention on the rights of the child as a reference.