Volume 07 Issue 04 April 2024
Barnabas Ishaku Sama’ila Shabayang
veritas university, Bwari Area Council, P.M.B. 5171 G.P.O. Wuse, Abuja.
DOI : https://doi.org/10.47191/ijsshr/v7-i04-26Google Scholar Download Pdf
ABSTRACT
The theology of the Trinity is the apex of Christian revelation. This is closely followed by the theology of Incarnation, which focuses on God’s entry into human history. The incarnation of the divine word as a human person, with the experience of childhood, underscores the dignity of the child to be preserved and protected. Given the situation of a possible violation, Joseph protected the Child Jesus from the wrath of Herod by fleeing to Egypt for safety (Mt.2:13-15). Every child has pride of place in the family and community, and protecting the dignity of the child is the responsibility of both the parents and the community. The current situation of terrorism in some parts of Northern Nigeria indicates a violation of the dignity of the child. Drawing from the incarnation as a ground for theological discourse on childhood, this chapter presents testimonies of shame and anger in Northern Nigeria to show the violation of the dignity of children. This article employs a historical-analytical methodology to account for the experiences of violence towards children in Northern Nigeria. It begins with a synopsis of the rich value of the child in African culture. It then moves on to presents an overview of the impact of terrorism on children in Northern Nigeria. Finally, the essay proposes recommendations rooted in the humility and dignity of the child for the Catholic church in Nigeria. In this final section, the essay considers education as a paradigm in preserving the dignity of the child. This essay contends that a child is a divine gift that must be protected by the church irrespective of tribe and creed.
REFERENCES
1) Carroll, John T., “Children in the Bible” Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology, Vol. 55, No. 2, April, 2001.
2) Children In War – International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva: Switzerland, 2004.
3) Eboh, Simeon, O, “Law and Order in the Society: The Nigerian Experience,” in The Nigerian Journal of Theology, Published by the Catholic Theological Association of Nigeria, ISSN 0794-9715, June 2004 Vol. 18.
4) Google. “Context: Corruption in Nigeria’s Education Sector,” https://www.chathamhouse.org/2021/09/pass-mark-bribery-nigerian-schools9120-combating-corruption-in -nigeria-bp-epub-2.xhtm1#footnote-021.
5) Google. IRONSIDE, Pernille, Reported by Ibrahim Mohammed in, “69 per cent of Nigeria’s Out-of -school children in the North-UNICEF, Accessed on Accessed on Accessed on www.https:punchng.com/insecrity-kukah-knocks-buhari-northern-critics-says-region-descending-into-arewanistan/
6) Google. “In northern Nigeria, attacks on Schools threaten children’s right to education” in News and Press Release, UNICEF, originally published, 3 September 2021.
7) Google. “Insecurity: Kukah knocks Buhari, Northern Critics, says Region Descending into ‘Arewanistan” Accessed on 25th December,2021, in www.https:punchng.com/insecrity-kukah-knocks-buhari-northern-critics-says-region-descending-into-arewanistan/
8) Google. “Out-of-school children”. in https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/289641-69-percent-of-nigerias-out-school-children-in-the-north-unicef.html
9) Google. “SAVE THE CHILDREN” in January 2019, in Stop the War on Children (save the children)” Protecting Children in the 21st century Conflict 1990-2017, UNICEF.
10) Google. “Save the Children,” in PRESS RELEASE”. In Children Affected by Armed Conflict in Africa call on Governments to take action to protect most vulnerable, Addis Ababa, 15 October 2019.
11) Google. “UNICEF, Save the Children,” in January 2019, in Stop the War on Children (save the children)” Protecting Children in the 21st century Conflict 1990-2017.
12) Harrington, Daniel J., “The Gospel According to Mark,” The New Jerusalem Biblical Commentary, Student Edition, No. 63, 2000.
13) Ibeh, Ifeanyi reporting “Buhari government no longer values sacredness of life” on Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah’s 2021 Christmas Message, “A Nation Still In Search of Truth & Vindication, PUNCH NEWS PAPER, 27th December, 2021. Accessed on www.https://Guardainnewspapers...
14) Kukah, Matthew Hassan, 2021 Christmas Message, “A Nation Still In Search of Truth & Vindication, PUNCH NEWS PAPER, Accessed on 25th December, 2021. www.https:punchng.com/insecrity-kukah-knocks-buhari-northern-critics-says-region-descending-into-arewanistan/
15) Kirya, M. (2019), Education sector corruption: How to assess it and ways to address it, U4 Issue 2019:5, p. 4 and Bergen, Norway: U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre, Chr. Michelsen Institute, Accessed 3 December, 2019, in https://www.u4.no/publications/education-sector-corruption-how-to-assess-it-and-waysclass="•-No-break">-to-address-it.
16) Pope Francis, Amoris Laeteritia and the Gospel of Family in a Divided World, Abuja, Paulines Publications West Africa, 2022.
17) Pope John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio; Apostolic Exhortation on the role of the Christian Family in the Modern World, Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1981, accessed also in https://w2.vatcan.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_ehortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh1981_19811122_familiaris-consortio.html
18) Google. “On Corruption in schools in Northern Nigeria” in ccessed on 5 September, 2021, in https://www.chathamhouse.org/2021/09/pass-mark-bribery-nigerian-schools9120-combating-corruption-in -nigeria-bp-epub-2.xhtm1#footnote-021
19) Google. “Types of Corruption,” in Encyclopedia Americana, 22, https://www.amazon.com> The Encyclopedia Americana: International Reference, Publisher: Rand, 1986.
20) Orobator, Agbonkhianmeghe, E., Religion and Faith in Africa: Confessions of an Animist, New York: Orbis Books, 2018.
21) Okonjo-Iweala, Ngozi, Fighting Corruption is Dangerous: The Story Behind the Headlines, England: The MIT Press, 2018.
22) Saharareporters, New York June 24, 2021, Accessed in www.https://saraharareporters.com
23) Shabayang, Barnabas Samaila, “Love Made Fruitful,” in Love, Joy and Sex: African Conversation on Pope Francis’ Amoris Laetitia and the Gospel of Family in a Divided World, ed. Stan Chu Ilo, Chicago: Eugene U. S. A., Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2018.
24) ¬¬The State of the World’s Children1996” Accessed 15 August, 2022
25) UNICEF, This message was composed by children from Mali, Sudan, Colombia, Yemen and Syria during consultations carried out by Save the Children in January 2019, in Stop the War on Children (save the children)” Protecting Children in the 21st century Conflict 1990-2017.