Tiny stories
As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of our work for children, UNICEF invited writers from all over the world to pen a short story on the theme ‘what I want for every child’. More than 200 authors answered the call, 19 of them from Nigeria, weaving their vision of a world in which all children enjoy the right to survive and thrive, to learn and to…, Aha! Quality EDUCATION for every child!, by Betty Abah What I want for every child? That to many seems so light And they treat with such slight But without it, life's a bore, a blight! Aha! Quality EDUCATION for every child! Nothing less, dear, for that's just what's right! From coast to coast, scream, beam's HOPE's Light!, For every child, the right to financial literacy, by Gbonjubola Sanni Gbolade, a very promising child, got the best education possible. He also got tutelage that led to early self-discovery. All of this helped him to develop a great career. He also had a good life until his boat was rocked. He was daunted by money issues; But his quest for a good life led him to the answer. He was shocked to…, A woman? too young to be; thirteen, by William Ifeanyi Moore She woke up next to him; Her husband. Body aching from being; A woman. Too young to be; Thirteen. Too young..., She made him kneel at the backyard and threatened to send him back to the village, by Ukamaka Olisakwe Onyema flipped through her son’s report card, a smile peeling her lips back for the first time that evening. She had survived a long day at work and returned to find her new houseboy, Ebuka, loitering in her husband’s study, running his unwashed hands over carefully shelved books. She made him kneel at the backyard and…, I want every child to sleep with two eyes shut, , by Toni Kan She feels the door creak and one eye snaps open She hears the familiar creaking of the hinges, Then heavy steps and heavy breathing Her palms grow clammy and her throat tightens as she pulls her legs together He stands by her bed, his shadow falling over her like a shroud She dies again and again as he settles on the bed and reaches…, I’m hoping for the child that becomes a dignifying leader, by Sumaila Umaisha I’d like to see a child that bears the fruits of our past and present labour. I’m hoping for the child that becomes a dignifying leader who will re-invent the ailing present into a colourful future. The kind of leader in whose hand religion will not be an instrument of death and destruction, but a tool for the promotion of…, I want a world where the rights of children are recognized and upheld, by Chido Onumah At the age of 8, Moco’s parents left her in the care of a 70-year-old widow. Moco’s guardian made her do hard jobs like crushing stones. She prevented Moco from attending school. She set targets for her. Whenever Moco missed her targets, she was forced to sleep outside Children don’t deserve to be treated like adults. I…, For every child, the right to dream, by Bolatito Ariyo Osoko DOWN in the deep, mutilated parts of the Niger-Delta creeks, it was cold and foggy. Ejiro, a pretty unassuming 10year old orphan, with a smooth & youthful face had a dream. In the dream, Ejiro accomplished her life long aspiration of becoming a Paediatrician. "Wake up", her eldest brother woke her interjecting her…, …quality healthcare, by BM Dzukogi Let me live… “Touch my legs, touch my arms, and feel the heat, in my bones. Drop a coin, drop a word, and remove the pains, I want to live. I want to live, and feel my legs, feel my arms, like you do, to your dreams. I have dreams, I want to live, to touch the sky, hold the mountain, and pull its ears, to my knees. This is the…, I want every child to be protected by adults...., by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie I want every child to go to sleep well-fed And not worry about the next meal Or the next. I want every child to have primary healthcare. I want every child to be protected by adults And to take for granted the kindness of adults And never to be treated like adults I want every child to be protected by adults.... For…, For every child, the right to a secure tomorrow, by Ifeoma Theodre Jnr. It was no abduction; rather, I was sold off by my parents, to a woman, who said, in return for domestic work as a minder to her children, she'd sponsor my education. Sold off, because, cash was exchanged to seal the deal. She turned me into a sex slave to older men, who used me for their sexual gratification, and my…, For every child, the right against torture, by Ayo Sogunro Whoosh—one—and a familiar feeling of injustice rips through me; but the enemy would get nothing. Whoosh—two—I count, happy to see I wasn’t going to break, taking my secrets to the grave. Whoosh—three—the life of a child is short, I think, and a thankless commitment to pain. Whoosh—four—the pain floods me, but soldier-like, I…, For every child, a right to dream, by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim "I was shelling some groundnuts earlier when your daughter came to ask me how long it would take for these to grow into trees." She held out her hand and in her wrinkly palm lay tree orange seeds. "I told her three to six years. But you know Zahra, she is already dreaming of lying in the shade of the tree on her…, For Every Child, the right to free, clean and potable water, by Wale Okediran As a child, the sight and sound of running water from public taps was a delight to me. Free water and not that paid for, is the right of every child. With clean and potable water, mothers will be able to keep the house and the children clean and healthy. With free water, mothers and children will save valuable hours that would…, At ten years old, she simply ‘grew up’, by Seun Odukoya I miss my daughter. No; she isn’t dead, nor is she getting married or moving out of my house and my life. At ten years old, she simply ‘grew up’. She no longer runs to me when I get to see her after a while; she no longer asks questions like she used to – in fact; she’s lost interest in a lot of things she used to care about.…, A world where every child has a home, a sanctuary where their innocence is protected, by Sadeeq Dzukogi ''Every so often, I dream of a world where every child has a home, a sanctuary where their innocence is protected. I dream of a world where children are free to dream, where a child don’t have to witness a parent being cut off the family tree by sectarian or any sort of violence. I dream of a world where every child…, Every child has to do their own growing up, by Kingsley Iweka Dare to Be! I didn’t spend a lot of time with my Grandfather growing up as a child, and I am not like him in many regards. Last Christmas he turned 90 and I went home to celebrate with him. Being with him that holiday season made it clear to me that as one gets older, staying young becomes a whole lot more difficult. Every…, For every child, the right to learn from mistakes, Constance Omawumi Kola-Lawal When I was eight, I saw a bright red storybook on the top level of my father’s bookshelf. How was I to know that I couldn’t safely reach that book by standing on a nearby swivel chair with wheels? Quite unsurprisingly, I ended up on the other side of the room. On the floor. We all learn through mistakes. If we…, I want every child to feel loved and secure, to have the basics of life, by Ayo Ayoola-Amale In great love and caring i found my own fullness. My true spirit of freedom, justice and life want every child to live in great love and care, to have the basics of life - like healthy food, warmth, shelter, clothing, excellent and holistic education, peace, fun times, joy, laughter, and big hugs. To feel loved and secure…
Nigeria
