A cross section of communication experts in Enugu State have expressed dismay over the rising aggression and violence among Nigerian children.
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They made their feelings known on Tuesday in Enugu at the 4th Annual Colloquium with the theme: Unrestrained Aggression- A Highway to Extreme Violence and Panacea to Challenges.
A Communication Expert with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Dr Hilary Ozoh, noted that aggression among children was a serious issue that posed a big challenge to the society.
He said curbing aggression had become imperative because children’s experiences of aggression stayed with them through to adulthood, with knock-on effects for the next generation.
According to him, one in every five children manifest aggressive behaviour; If we have 40 children, eight out of them will definitely manifest symptoms of aggression.
“Be it verbal or violence aggressions, it gets worse if not contained especially if one grows into adulthood.
“Violence at home can make Children learn aggressive behaviour especially parents that practise it,” he said.
Ozoh listed life experience, family structure, social- economic issues and mental health as the factors causing aggression and violence.
The communication expert urged parents to pay more attention to their children and bring them closer to enable them speak freely about their feelings and experiences.
In her opening remarks, the Chairperson of the event and former Commissioner for Information in Anambra, Prof. Stella Okunna emphasised the need to help children to manage their anger.
Okunna noted that aggression level among children was becoming very terrifying in recent times.
“They could be under the influence of drug or alcohol and at that point, their anger level will increase if provoked,” she advised.
Dr Ojel Anidi, Director, Research and Development, Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) said that every incessant killing, shooting and kidnapping was a product of aggression.
“Government is spending money to fight violence but I am of the opinion that we all should go back to our core values and oral transformation of knowledge.
“This will impact respect in them and make them see violence as evil act,” she said.
Anidi, therefore, advised children to stop imitating others with bad influence and urged them to be mindful of their actions.
In his goodwill message, Mr Ugonna Ibe, Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, said government, teachers and parents have a crucial role to play in ending violence.
He urged children to shun consumption of illicit drugs and other illegal association that could damage their lives.
Earlier, the Organiser of the event, Chinemerem Anyi said cases of violence everywhere in the country pushed her to organise the programme.
Anyi, who is also the founder, Relief Pitch Initiative, a Non Governmental Organisation, said there were better ways to resolve issues,noting that violence was for the weak.
“I was embittered with the situation and I began to search for the younger ones to teach and reorient them, letting them know that dialogue is better than violence,” she added.
She added that the group deals with issues of child and maternal healthcare, advocacy against violence and women empowerment.
