Tribal Marks now Illegal in Nigeria - Child's right

Osun State government has banned people in the state from giving facial mark or tattoo to their children. The new law, which was contained in the Child’s Rights Law signed by the state governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, imposed a fine of N5,000 or a jail term of one month or both for anyone who contravened the law.


According to Section 24 of the law, “No person shall tattoo or make a skin mark or cause any tattoo or skin mark to be made on a child,” while Section 24 (2) said “A person who tattoos or makes a skin mark on a child commits an offence under this law and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding N5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or to both such fine and imprisonment.


The law which also stipulated that a child had right to parental care compelled parents to get full immunisation against diseases for their children.


It said “any parent, guardian or person who fails in his or her duty to provide immunisation for the child commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding N5,000 as a first offender and a second or any subsequent offence, whether in respect of that child or any other child, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month.”


The law also protected children from being subjected to forced or exploitative labour or being employed as a domestic help outside his home.

What a good law! I wish such a law had existed when I was born. However, the N5,000 fine and one month jail term seem too small to deter some stubborn parents. Hope other states will follow suit.

I did not agree with such laws,it is anti-tradition,it will only kill our culture.

There are so many of our traditions that need scrapping as they add no value to us as human beings. This is one of them. I commend the government and pray the National assembly will follow suit. You do not have to have a scratched face to show that you are a Nigerian of Yoruba or Kanuri or Nupe extraction. As long as we remain united as a nation, marks are just a symbolism we can do away with.There are more than a billion Indians and another of Chinese. The Europeans themselves are races that are miles apart in traditions and cultures. You simply identify them by their languages or mannerisms. The Arabs and Badouins, the Cossacks and Mangolians. They do not mark their faces to show the world their traditions and culture. Thank God, I have never marked any of my children. They are simply Nigerians and if they have to identify their tribe in any way. they say it with their mouth.

Originally Posted by falana

I did not agree with such laws,it is anti-tradition,it will only kill our culture.

Do you also have tribal marks on your face? If not, please try and have some so as to preserve our culture. It is never too late to come under the knife. He who wears the shoe knows where it pinches. Cultures are meant to be dynamic and progressive.

Take it easy gembiz,You are not the only one that have the leopard's mark,I have some on my stomach like a star,they said it was because I used to convulsed as a child.
I commend this law,it should be adopted by the upper house ,It is like tattooing a 1 year old child,It is indeed a child's right abuse.

It it in the best interest of the child. With the Child Right Act, children may start suing such 'tattooing' abusers through their next friend! Some end up looking masquerade.

Originally Posted by okoyeh

Take it easy gembiz,You are not the only one ...

Thanks, Okoyeh. I did not realise it that I over-reacted or was over-excited about the topic. My brother, that thing is painful! On a second thought, maybe Falana could also have some point as regards preserving our culture. But the innocent little child who has no control over what is being done to him/her should be spared. May I, therefore, add that adults who desire tribal marks, especially facial ones, could have them? The law allows for this option, I think.

Originally Posted by gembiz

.............. May I, therefore, add that adults who desire tribal marks, especially facial ones, could have them? The law allows for this option, I think.

This is too funny.

This is very good, but there is more to it than passing the law. Our government should take up the responsibility of making sure all our health facilities especially in rural areas (where they are still trying to preserve culture with "tribal marks") are adequately staffed and have basic facilities to provide essential service like immunization . With these put in place, we can penalize parents who fail to immunize their children.

I think the ministry of Culture should in fact collect list of obsolete and non rewarding cultures,with a bid to stop them.