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International Day of the African Child 2026
The Sophomore Advocates of the Justice Nsima Akpabio Chambers conducted an outreach programme in commemoration of the International Day of the African Child 2026. The event was held at the SS1 classroom of the host school, with students and twelve teachers in attendance.
The outreach was structured around six core sessions covering the significance of the Day of the African Child, general and personal hygiene, safe water, handwashing and disease prevention, menstrual hygiene, legal aid awareness, and sessions on bullying, child abuse and child labour. The initiative aligned with the African Union's 2026 theme: Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Every Child in Africa.
The programme opened with the teaching of the Justice Nsima Akpabio Chambers mantra, followed by the learning of the host school's CSC mantra. The Deputy Class Governor, Abasiodu Vincent, and the Director of Programs, Benedict Cletus, were introduced. Benedict Cletus moderated the session and ushered in each speaker.
Introduce students to the International Day of the African Child and its 2026 theme, while promoting understanding of children's rights to water, sanitation and hygiene.
Deliver practical education on personal hygiene, safe water, handwashing, disease prevention, menstrual hygiene, legal aid and protection from bullying, abuse and child labour.
Foster active participation through interactive sessions, Q&A and rewards, encouraging students to take ownership of their health, rights and personal safety.
A teacher from the host school welcomed the advocates and ushered them into the SS1 classroom. The students were settled and seated, and proved highly responsive throughout. The Justice Nsima Akpabio Chambers mantra was taught, and the school's CSC mantra was learned in return. The Deputy Class Governor, Abasiodu Vincent, and the Director of Programs, Benedict Cletus, were introduced, with Benedict Cletus serving as moderator for the session.
Elijah Ukpong was tasked with introducing the Day of the African Child and its theme. He expanded the scope to address statutes concerning general hygiene, provision of water supply, sanitation and related matters. Akemini Ekpo then handled safe water and personal hygiene, laying emphasis on the importance of safe water according to United Nations standards and the UN's efforts in providing safe water to Africa, the continent holding the largest share of non-portable water.
Treasure Inyene addressed handwashing and disease prevention, alongside environmental sanitation. She laid emphasis on scrubbing between fingers to kill germs, combating disease by ensuring clean water sources, and maintaining top-tier personal hygiene.
Dayeabasi Uwem spoke on legal aid awareness, informing students how to access legal assistance if they could not afford to pursue their legal battles, including avenues available through the Ministry of Justice.
Sediong Tieseh addressed bullying, child abuse and child labour. The key takeaway was that confidence and self-awareness reduce susceptibility to bullying. Students were advised to report all forms of physical and verbal bullying and to combat them with self-affirmative statements and convictions.
Aniebiet Ntuk took the final and most sensitive topic, discussing menstrual hygiene. She addressed the types of pads to use, the unsanitary conditions arising from the use of non-medically approved materials, and the importance of maintaining good hygiene during menstruation. She noted that these topics are now more openly discussed than in older generations. Atisa Ndue answered a question regarding painful menstruation, explaining the biological processes involved, while Abasiodu Vincent advised drinking warm water to help subside the pains.
Students who actively participated and answered questions were rewarded. The boys were then excused while the girls received menstrual hygiene supplies. The accompanying teacher was presented with gifts on behalf of the school from the chamber, represented by Abasiodu Vincent.
The programme concluded with a group photograph taken outside the classroom. All participants departed safely.
The teaching and learning of both the JNAC and CSC mantras fostered a sense of unity and mutual recognition between the advocates and the student body.
Students received detailed instruction on safe water, personal hygiene, handwashing, disease prevention and menstrual hygiene, with practical emphasis on scrubbing between fingers and using medically approved materials.
Students were informed of their right to legal aid and their protection from bullying, child abuse and child labour, with actionable advice on reporting and self-affirmation.
Students who answered questions and contributed actively were recognised and rewarded. Girls received menstrual hygiene supplies, and the school was presented with gifts through its representative teacher.
The students were very responsive. We taught them the Justice Nsima Akpabio mantra and learned theirs in return. It was a genuine exchange, not just a lecture.
The key takeaway on bullying was clear: confidence and self-awareness make you less susceptible. Every ploy, physical or verbal, should be reported and met with self-affirmative conviction.
The plus we have is that these things are worth talking about now. They are less kept in the dark as they were in older generations. The students asked real questions and got real answers.
Access the complete official documentation of the outreach programme, including detailed findings, participant feedback and photographic records.
Download PDFThe Sophomore Advocates of the Justice Nsima Akpabio Chambers extend sincere gratitude to Community Secondary School for warmly welcoming the outreach team and facilitating the session. We thank the students for their enthusiasm and active participation, the teachers for their support and guidance, and the volunteers whose dedication made this initiative possible. We also acknowledge the broader JNAC community for its continued commitment to advocacy, justice and the welfare of children across Africa.