Voice is a brainchild of the Initiative for Non Violence on Innocent Children Everywhere, voice aims at bringing together likeminded individuals who share a common vision, who are resolute and determined to put an end to crimes against children. We all know the meaning of voice, Encarta dictionary defines voice as a sound produced by using vocal organs, or the sound of singing, it also states, and
this is the reason for the choice of this name, it is the right to state an opinion, a medium of communication or expression for somebody or something. This is the reason for this effort, to use our voices to ensure the safety of children, to ensure that their needs are met, to ensure that they have access to basic amenities, above all to ensure that children have a voice it is our right. In Rivers State, there seems to be silence when events do not border around oil or politics, this has not only allowed multi-nationals ignore their corporate social responsibilities, but has left so many salient issues unattended to. Recently in Nigeria, crimes targeted at children have increased dramatically, we live in a society where children are no longer safe, where children are used to accomplish nefarious activities, children as a result of their vulnerability are now targets of ritualists, kidnappers, paedophiles, today it has degenerated to a point where children are kidnapped and killed to get the attention of the Government, while we sit in our houses to complain and criticize the Government, the trend continues to increase. Voice is here to make some noise and get the attention of those who can make change possible in our society. We may not have resources, but we have our voices, and that is the greatest weapon we need. Just recently at Omagua in Rivers state, a taxi driver who was contracted by a family to take their children to school and back, sold this children, four of them in number to body parts traders, for twenty thousand naira each. The horror this family has been made to face...we pray for God to console them, a video showing a primary school teacher having s*x with a pupil recently went viral on the internet, people watched, laughed, and aired their views online and that was the end. We need to rise up above mere comments, we need to tell the world that here in Rivers State there is an organization that says no to silence, today voice is born with the motto: Awareness for Prevention. Prevention efforts must occur before a problem or some manifestation of the problem escalates. I know that some of us might be thinking what do i stand to benefit from all this, am i the one to change society? Who am I to make a difference, let me conclude by saying you are Gods man to make that change that we desire in this present age. Men of note that posterity speaks of today, are not remembered for the wealth they acquired or the money they made while alive, we remember such persons for their contributions in society and the impact they made in peoples life’s. Mary Slessor did not have twins when she took upon herself the struggle to stop the killing of twins. President Obama is president of America today because Martin luther King chose not to be silent, I can go on and on but time will not permit me, children are a gift from God, we all here were once children, some of us will not be seated here if yesterday were today, a crime against a child is a crime against the future, no one wants to loose a child, let’s think about tomorrow and how we can make it better, today boko haram threatens the peace of this great nation, we recently heard of the abduction of some children in the north, while organizations around the world are giving their voice to ensure that this girls are released, here in Rivers State we only sit in the comforts of our sofas to lament, forgetting that this people are everywhere, God forbid that this trend comes near our state, but let us not sleep comfortably because the possibility of it happening is far from us, the truth is any issue we ignore not necessarily on this boko haram comes closer to us each passing day, as I said earlier, prevention efforts must occur before a problem escalates, so that the problem or a manifestation of that problem can be reduced or stopped. Nigeria is a blessed country, before now we hear of such ungodly acts in faraway countries never within our perceived reality today it draws closer each day, let us be advocates for change. Before us today is a platform on which we can live a legacy that will not be forgotten by posterity. I urge each and everyone here to commit to this noble gesture and ensure that this vision becomes a reality.
