The Nation Newspaper

Tag: children’s day celebration

  • Offer scholarship to indigent children, Speaker urges affluent Nigerians

    Mrs Rita Maduagwu, the Speaker of  Anambra  House of Assembly, has called  on  affluent Nigerians  to offer scholarship  and other assistance to indigent  children to enhance their living condition.

    Maduagwu made the call  on Saturday in her goodwill message to mark the Children’s Day celebration  in Awka.

    She also called on the  National  and State Assemblies to enact laws that would  guarantee adequate protection and training  of children.

    The Speaker said offering  free education and basic amenities  to indigent children would make life more meaningful for them.

    Maduagwu also enjoined parents to give proper home training and education to their children in order to inculcate good morals in them.

    The speaker, who described children as the pride of the family, advised parents to show equal love to their children no matter their sex.

    She also charged children to take their studies seriously and abstain from acts capable of tarnishing the image of their families.

  • I’m resolute in finding Chibok girls – Buhari

    I’m resolute in finding Chibok girls – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari said Friday that he remained committed to the finding of the over 200 Chibok girls seized in April 2014 by the terror sect, Boko Haram.

    He said on the occasion of this year’s Children’s Day celebration that the recent rescue of Amina Ali Nkeki and Sarah Luka all of Chibok was evidence that government is unwavering in this task.

    Represented by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Muhammad Bello, Buhari also called for an end to all forms of abuse and exploitation against the child, including abduction and forced early marriage.

    No child or indeed any Nigerian, he said, should be put through the brutality of abduction, violence or forced marriage in whatever form, stressing that every girl has a right to education and choice of life.

    He spoke of the urgent need for all stakeholders, including parents and communities at all levels to protect children against any form of violence.

    He directed the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to liaise with other agencies to work out appropriate programmes including actions and measures that would help in tackling violence and abuse against children.

    While wishing children happy celebration, the President urged them to be responsible citizens by respecting constituted authorities as well their parents, teachers and elders.

    He called on parents to teach their children to live a life of honesty, dedication and love for the country.

    In her address, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Jumai Alhassan who was also represented at the occasion by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Binta Adamu Bello said that  government would not leave any stone unturned in protecting the rights of the children.

  • Children’s day: No hiding place for child traffickers – Ambode

    Children’s day: No hiding place for child traffickers – Ambode

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday said that the State Government would no longer tolerate any form of child abuse, domestic violence, child trafficking or violation of any law on the development of children in the state warning that perpetrators would be dealt with in accordance with the provision of the law.

    Governor Ambode who was speaking at the Children’s Day celebration organised by the Lagos  State Ministry of Education at the Police College ground, Ikeja said that in the recent times, there  has been  a noticeable increase in child abuse,  raping, kidnapping , deliberate neglect  and above all, child trafficking   in the country.

    The Governor who said that these acts constitute serious criminal offences warned that his government would not tolerate any of these acts in any part of the state.

    He therefore warned perpetrators of these acts to desist as his government is battle ready to deal decisively with anyone caught in the act. The governor expressed sadness that this criminal act is becoming a norm in our society today rather than being an aberration.

    Governor Ambode who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule disclosed that recent findings from Violence against Children (VAC) survey indicated that children under the age of 18 in Nigeria are being abused in the society, most especially by those that they refer to as their family members.

    The Governor while assuring children that his administration has taken a holistic approach in protecting them against an abuse or unjust treatment, disclosed   that security operatives have been put on the alert to arrest and prosecute anyone that abuses or infringes on their fundamental rights.

    “My beloved children, let me assure you all of our determination and commitment towards ensuring that anyone who engages  in any form of abuse and violence against any child shall be appropriately dealt with under the law,’’ the governor warned

    He reminded them that his administration has demonstrated its zero tolerance for child abuse, kidnapping or violence against children with the prompt approach taken to recover three kidnapped students of Babington Macaulay Seminary, Ikorodu.

    He assured that not only that he would ensure that those  behind the act are  legally dealt with, he has directed all security operatives including the police to provide security around all public schools in the state to forestall a re-occurrence.

    Describing the theme of the year 2016 Children’s Day celebration: Stop Violence Against Children as instructive, the governor stated that his administration is investing heavily in creating a conducive environment for them to develop their talents.

    He said, “A testament of our government commitment to your future and nurturing of your talents is the budgetary provision of the sum of N113.3billion in the year 2016 budget for the education sector’’.

    While congratulating them for the success of the celebration, Ambode urged children to work harder and be focused in their academic pursuits so that government huge investment in their education would not be a waste.

    On her part, wife of the Governor, Mr. Bolanle Ambode said Lagos State has continued to lead from the front in placing priority in the well being of children, however adding that there was still more grounds to cover in several areas.

    Mrs. Ambode who was represented by the wife of the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibiyemi Bello, commended the activities of various women and children-interest Non Governmental Organisations, saying that they have done much in the area of promoting public awareness on child rights, as well as challenges facing them.

    “However, I urge them to intensify efforts in the area of campaign against domestic violence and child marriage. These are unacceptable social evils that have simply refused to disappear from our society,” Mrs. Ambode said.

  • Lagos public school pupils relish children’s day celebration

    The annual Lagos Children’s Day celebration held recently at the Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, with over 1,500 public primary school pupils in attendance. The schools were drawn from various local government areas of the state.

    It featured keenly contested debate, Spelling Bee competition and highly entertaining cultural presentations.

    Speaking, the organizers, Adetola Okanlawon and Adeyemi Ifeoluwa, the Managing Directors of First Line Nigeria and Triple S Entertainment respectfully said: “Lagos Children’s day is what we have been doing since 2009. It gives feelings of positive memories, values and spirit of giving back to the community.  We are dedicating today the public primary school students in Lagos State. We strictly work with public schools because if we look at the level of comfort between them and the private schools, you will find that there is a wide difference.

    “It is not easy organizing the event but we have taken it upon ourselves to add value to the lives of these children in public schools in the state. It is something that we must do to make them happy whether we get financial support or not. We are simply out to create a memorable event in the minds of these children so that tomorrow they can they can be psychologically relieved and not feel inferior before their peers in the private schools,” they said.

    They admonished the pupils to focused, adding: “When they combine it with the fear God  and honesty, the sky would be their starting point. We really appreciate our sponsors for their support.”