Are children liabilities or assets? 

Are children liabilities or assets? 

By: Balami Lazarus 

In the village of Wulkancha, every family is blessed with children, males and females. But Thalma was the only married woman who has had no fruit from the womb after having undergone several medical tests and examinations by experts. Mrs. Thalma Oluwale Nnamani’s results were always positive; some sympathized with her, wishing her good luck in having her own children. 

While to some she is a laughing stock, a barren witch. For others, they don’t care but complain about their children as burdens and liabilities. Therefore, when you raise the issue of children in public spaces, it draws and generates different concerns and attention. 

It could be pity, care, help, or emotion from individuals or organizations. But if you are to hand over children to some of these individuals or bodies, you will be shocked at what this child or children will be turned into because, for them, children are liabilities, theirs inclusive. 

Let me say here that those who know me too well will tell you that I have a soft spot for children, and this character has caused me positive troubles and indeed misunderstandings with some neighbors, friends, and relatives. 

The case of Nneamaka Nwachukwu vs. the State (Plateau State Government, Nov. 2022), in which my organization, NEWSng, and I were involved in the brutal killing of Margret Joshua, is one of many that have to do with the children we are in. 

Anyone who labels children as liabilities, not assets, can at any point in time maltreat, exploit, or even literally kill the child. 

Children are a gift from God that comes through you as your like in life, your true representative here on earth. You and I, as parents, are spiritually mandated in their innocence to police them in guidance and protection through life to the age of consent. But there are shylocks who see them as liabilities. 

To use the term liability on your own children is insultive, degrading, dehumanizing, and an abuse to the human race. I will loosely prefer the term nuisance to be used on them because of their carefree acts as part of their growing up. And we were once like them. It is then uncalled for to look at them as liabilities but rather as potential assets full of unlimited source materials. 

Now here you are, between two universal questions. And if you are for liabilities, my question for you on behalf of that child or children is: did he or did they ask for their birth? 

Balami, a publisher and columnist, 08036779290.

Are children liabilities or assets?