The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Children’s Day

  • Osun celebrates Children’s day with pomp

    No fewer than 1,700  school pupils in Osun State on Saturday joined their mates nationwide to commemorate this year edition of Children’s Day. Amidst colorful calisthenics on display by the pupils of both public and private schools participating at the Osogbo City stadium, the state governor,  Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, addressed the children, assuring them that the state government would continue to give priority to education in the state.

    In attendance at the event were the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole and cabinet members of the Osun State government, including the state deputy governor, Chief Mrs. Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, the Chief of Staff to the governor,  Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola and the Head of Service, Oyebade Olowogboyega, among other dignitaries. Aregbesola, who described children as the leaders of tomorrow, said his government had provided an enabling environment for children to excel in their academic pursuit.

    According  to the governor, his administration had built world class  schools with adequate infrastructure and school feeding programme to motivate learning. He said his administration was determined to lay a solid foundation for education of children.

  • Grandma Wura goes on stage for Children’s Day

    Ahead of this year’s Children’s Day celebration, Proud African Roots presents Story-Theatre with Grandma Wura, an adventure of African tales, music and dance performed on stage.

    It is a three-day event with nine shows in celebration of Children’s Day holding from May 25 to 27 at the Terra Kulture Arena, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Story Theatre with Grandma Wura is a full musical theatrical experience that showcases the rich culture of Nigeria in dance, music, drama and mime, complemented by spectacular lighting and colourful costumes.

    This year’s promises to be most thrilling with the story of ‘Ebi-Bulu’, a musical theatre which story is created by Proud African Roots and written by Charles Nwaokolo. It is directed by Israel Memoriame Wekpe and produced by Bola Edwards.

    Ebi-Bulu, which means ‘Good Heart’, is an Ijaw-based story of betrayal between two friends, who are torn apart as a result of greed and quest for power.

    Timi and Preye set out on a mission to conquer a monster fish which was eating up their fishes and polluting their water thereby, affecting the source of their people’s economy. The reward for the good hearted one who would risk his life to kill the monster fish was the throne.

    Mrs. Edward explained that Story Theatre with Grandma Wura is performance that combines elements of Grandma Wura’s mission of raising a new generation of leaders through her school tours, contents, events and other activities into a single unforgettable theatrical experience.

    “An audience of over 4000 is expected to be in attendance which includes schools, families, religious worship groups and government officials as well as celebrities from various works of life.

    The songs in Ebi-Bulu are written and composed by Patrick Edwards, translated and arranged by Charity Omaghomi. All dances are choreographed by Frank Konwea.

    “Story Theatre with Grandma Wura brings together seasoned professionals in acting and theatrical production as well as discover and develop child actors. It has experienced four editions from 2015 to 2017 inclusive of schools, families, orphanages, churches and so on.

    Story Theatre with Grandma Wura 2018, is being managed by ToyinUbamadu, sponsored by MTN and supported by Maltina, Nestle, Terra Kulture and 4RealVentures,” Mrs. Edward said.

  • Grandma Wura goes on stage for Children’s Day

    Ahead of this year’s Children’s Day celebration, Proud African Roots presents Story-Theatre with Grandma Wura, an adventure of African tales, music and dance performed on stage.

    It is a three-day event with nine shows in celebration of Children’s Day holding from May 25 to 27 at the Terra Kulture Arena, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Story Theatre with Grandma Wura is a full musical theatrical experience that showcases the rich culture of Nigeria in dance, music, drama and mime, complemented by spectacular lighting and colourful costumes.

    This year’s promises to be most thrilling with the story of ‘Ebi-Bulu’, a musical theatre which story is created by Proud African Roots and written by Charles Nwaokolo. It is directed by Israel Memoriame Wekpe and produced by Bola Edwards.

    Ebi-Bulu, which means ‘Good Heart’, is an Ijaw-based story of betrayal between two friends, who are torn apart as a result of greed and quest for power.

    Timi and Preye set out on a mission to conquer a monster fish which was eating up their fishes and polluting their water thereby, affecting the source of their people’s economy. The reward for the good hearted one who would risk his life to kill the monster fish was the throne.

    Mrs. Edward explained that Story Theatre with Grandma Wura is performance that combines elements of Grandma Wura’s mission of raising a new generation of leaders through her school tours, contents, events and other activities into a single unforgettable theatrical experience.

    “An audience of over 4000 is expected to be in attendance which includes schools, families, religious worship groups and government officials as well as celebrities from various works of life.

    The songs in Ebi-Bulu are written and composed by Patrick Edwards, translated and arranged by Charity Omaghomi. All dances are choreographed by Frank Konwea.

    “Story Theatre with Grandma Wura brings together seasoned professionals in acting and theatrical production as well as discover and develop child actors. It has experienced four editions from 2015 to 2017 inclusive of schools, families, orphanages, churches and so on.

    Story Theatre with Grandma Wura 2018, is being managed by ToyinUbamadu, sponsored by MTN and supported by Maltina, Nestle, Terra Kulture and 4RealVentures,” Mrs. Edward said.

     

  • FOUNDATION CELEBRATES CHILDREN’S DAY

    IYANIWURA Children Care Foundation, recently celebrated its fourth edition of Children’s Day at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

    Welcoming guests at the occasion, CEO of the Foundation, Mrs. Otitoloju said “Iyaniwura Children Care Foundation (ICCF) is committed to actively raising the quality of life for every child. We want all children, regardless of ethnicity, creeds or circumstances to achieve their full potentials. Our task is to make it possible. Our mission is to provide practical step-by-step assistance.”

    She further implored schools in Lagos to key into their programmes as students performed in activities like cultural dance, music and debates.

    Some of the children who participated in the debate discussed Digital Technology Development among kids.

    “Children are natural artists; they sing, dance, play, paint, draw, run, write and read. Instead of believing that our adult purpose is to instruct children, we should be open enough to learn from them and to be inspired by them and to work alongside them. Their energy creativity, their imagination are the beating heart of our culture. This grows from an understanding and celebration of the fact that our children are in the process of exploring and creating a better world,” Otitoloju added.

    Schools present at the celebration include Kinihun Ifa Nursery and Primary School, as well as Federal Government College Oworonshoki, among others.

  • Rainbow Book Club marks Children’s Day with contest, reading

    Rainbow Book Club marks Children’s Day with contest, reading

    To mark Children’s Day, the Rainbow Book Club organised a writing competition entitled: The Rivers State of my dream and book reading.

    The event, which held at Alliance Francaise, was also used to mark of the Golden Jubilee of Rivers State. It was attended by over 100 pupils from 20 primary and secondary schools in Port Harcourt.

    After the competition, the group held a reading on Fela Durotoye’s book, 17 Secrets of High-Flying Students. This session was moderated by Rainbow Book Club founder and Project Director, UNESCO World Book Capital 2014, Mrs Koko Kalango. On stage with her to discuss the book were Emmanuella Wokoma from Baptist High School; Oreke Onyekachi from Kenneth Commercial and Technical College; Praise Seimode from Archdeacon Brown Education Centre; Wike Shalom from Olivet Heights International School; Isaac Obiazi from Port Harcourt International School, and Sobowale Excellence from Model Junior Secondary.

     

  • Children’s Day: Unity Bank MD hosts Holy Child College students

    Children’s Day: Unity Bank MD hosts Holy Child College students

    The Unity Bank Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Mrs. Tomi Somefun has advised students to be cautious in embracing  social media.

    The bank chief said that addiction to all forms ‘gadgetisation’ and social media tools could result  to major distraction and negative influences that may derail their future.

    Mrs. Somefun gave the advice when Unity Bank hosted students of the   Holy Child College, Ikoyi, as part of the activities to mark the 2017 Children’s day celebration. The high point of the activities was the role played  by Miss Stephanie Okafor, who was the One-Day CEO of Unity Bank.

    “The internet is a good resource for academic work as well as for sharing of information in a cost effective manner and there is no doubt about the values it has brought to the society. However, there is need for caution as excessive exposure/use of the internet and other social media tools could adversely affect children in their formative years”, she stated.

    She tasked the students to remain focused and work hard for the attainment of their respective dreams while making career choices. “You can be anything you want to be. No dream is too big, keep your focus and never allow anything to distract you”, she advised.

    She had informed the students of the core values of the Bank which include: teamwork, honesty, integrity, excellence, dependability, empathy and passion, adding that the values are philosophies that guide the business in fulfilling its obligation to stakeholders

    The hosting of the Holy Child College students by the MD/CEO of Unity Bank at the bank’s Head Office in Lagos was the climax of week-long activities which witnessed the excursion of many schools across the country to different branches of Unity Bank in commemoration of this years’ Children’s Day celebration. Mrs. Tomi Somefun is an alumnus of Holy Child College, Ikoyi.

  • Children’s Day: Conoil seeks better deal for Nigerian child

    Children’s Day: Conoil seeks better deal for Nigerian child

    Conoil Plc wants Nigerians to spare a thought for the innocence of children who are growing up in the midst of divisiveness, violence, kidnapping and terrorism.

    The company in a message on the occasion of this year’s Children’s Day, observed that many children are “growing up in the midst of values and principles that have been twisted – in the society, in the classroom, at home, on television and the social media.”

    It advised teachers, parents, governments, non-governmental organizations and all well-meaning Nigerians to be vigilant and take “urgent action to stem the growing negative influence these affordable situations are having on the children.”

    It also entreated parents, leaders and every adult to “lead by example by imbibing hard work, diligence, discipline, honesty, prudence, selflessness and patriotism.”

    Parents, it said should “strive at all times to nurture, educate, mentor and pride their children to be the best in whatever endeavour they find themselves,” while government at all levels should “guarantee better living conditions for the Nigerian child by providing access to quality and affordable education, effective transportation system, good healthcare and other basic necessities so that they can grow, flourish and keep our nation strong.”

  • Childrens Day: Yobe children thrill legislature with mock parliament session

    Childrens Day: Yobe children thrill legislature with mock parliament session

    Members of Yobe State House of Assembly were on Saturday treated with excitement at a mock session of the State Children’s’ Parliament.

    The Yobe Children Mock Parliament which was put together by the United Nation High Commission for Refugees, Damaturu Office was held at the hallow Chambers of the Yobe State House of Assembly with some members in attendance to mark the 2017 World Children’s Day.

    The members who took the back stage in the Chambers with the children taken over the House led by a 16 year old female Speaker, Fatima Mohammed Kolomi from Government Girls Secondary School Damaturu all through could not hide their excitement was they kept applauding the children who diligently conducted the proceedings of the House without flaws.

    During the Day’s mock session, Hon. Speaker of the House Fatima Mohammed called on the clerk of the House who read out the Yobe State Child Protection Bill with the Majority Leader of the House Fatima Alkali moving the motion.

    The children took turn to make brilliant contributions for and against the bill for the first, second and third reading after which it was passed into law.

    Hon. Buba Kala Lawan, a member of the State House of Assembly representing Damaturu II Constituency said the performance of the children has given him hope that a more vibrant House of Assembly in the waiting for the state with such brilliant children in years to come.

    “I am very pleased with the performance of these children. With what we have seen today, it is a clear indication that Yobe State in the nearest future with these kinds of brilliant children will have a more vibrant house. We are proud of these children and we as a House will continue to make legislations that will promote the welfare of children in the state,” Buba said.

    Another member Hon. Ishaku Daya said the House will continue to encourage such initiatives to expose the children to legislative proceeding.

    According to him, “children at such age if exposed to legislative issues will create a good political consciousness that will shape the future of our polity”.

    Presenting his message to the children, the Field Team Leader of UNHCR Yobe State, Mr. Gabriel Idoko called on the children to work hard to achieve their dreams in life.

    He was also thankful to all the partners in the state including the Yobe State House of Assembly, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Women Affairs and the media for the support given to his organization in the state.

    Good will messages were presented from the state House of Assembly, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Youth and Sports who all expressed delight over the performance of the children.

    In another, children who came out at the August 27 Stadium to mark the Children’s Day celebration were stranded as no government official came out to take salute for their match pass.

    Our correspondent reports that the police were handy at the stadium to give the children the desired security, even with the State Commisiioner of police who came to supervise the activities at the Stadium.

    About nine schools in Damaturu were sighted at the Basket Ball court of the August 27 Stadium doing their parade with members of Man nor War controlling them.

    Some of the students who spoke to our reporter expressed disappointment with Yobe State Government for abandoning them at the stadium despite the improvement of security in the state.

    One of the Students Adamu Yusuf from a public School in Damaturu, said, “ Government cannot give us any excuse now about Boko Haram. We have all seeing that security in the state has improved drastically. In the last few years, they use to tell us that Boko Haram will come and bomb us. But today, there is no Boko Haram but see how we are here without any official from Yobe State Government,” Adamu said.

    Fatima was also not happy with the way they came out to celebrate the day but without any care from the government.

    “Gov. Gaidam is our father, he is supposed to be here with us or send somebody to come and represent us but look at us here without anybody. This is not good for this government,” Fatima said.

    The Commissioner for Women Affairs in the State Hajara Lawan when contacted said funds were not approved for the celebration.

    “We have submitted proposal for the children’s Day celebration but money was not approved for it. So we cannot go there,” the Commissioner informed.

  • May 29: Osinbajo pays surprise visit to Garki market, interacts with traders

    May 29: Osinbajo pays surprise visit to Garki market, interacts with traders

    …Traders lament high cost of rent, food items

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday afternoon paid a surprised visit to Garki Model market in Abuja.

    The visit was a part of the activities marking the second anniversary of the Muhammad Buhari’s administration.

    Osinbajo in the market interacted with traders in order to get firsthand information on the cost of goods and food items in the market.

    He arrived the market at about 3:10 pm to the cheers of the traders who shouted “Osibaba, APC” and left the market after about 45 minutes.

    While pricing some food items which included fish, onions, rice and beans, the Acting President also received complaints from the traders who said that the cost of renting shops was high.

    A fish seller who sought government’s intervention to reduce the cost of the shop said it was as high as N250, 000 per annum.

    She also complained that the prices of locally smoked fish had gone high just as the imported ones had also skyrocketed.

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    A rice seller, Alhaji Nasiru Maiyaki Kuryfi also complained of inadequate shop space.

    He said that the management of the market was yet to complete the shops already paid for.

    Responding, Osinbajo promised to intervention in the situation including the high cost of rent.

    He encouraged the traders to go into agriculture in order to enhance local produce.

    Osinbajo also appealed to the traders to keep their goods at affordable prices especially at the time of Ramadan.

    “The more we farm the more the cost of products will come down”. He said

    Osinbajo was accompanied to the market by the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar and other senior presidential aides.

    Speaking to State House correspondents at the end of the visit, Osinbajo’s Spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande said the visit was to feel the pulse of Nigerians.

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    He also said that the Acting President earlier in the day played host to a group of school children to commemorate the Children’s Day on Saturday.

    He said: “This surprise visit is essentially in the mood of May 29 Democracy Day that is approaching. The Acting President decided to go to the market to feel the pulse of Nigerians.

    “He wanted an opportunity to hear directly from the people and he decided to go to the market so that he can have some kind of one-and-one interaction with the traders.

    “And of course, to assure them that the Buhari administration is very much committed to revamping the economy and bringing back the economy to recovery and to assure the people that the singular purpose of the president is to ensure that life gets better; that things improve economically and in spheres of life in this country.

    “And it is also in time, just at the beginning of the Ramadan fast. He also used the opportunity to encourage traders to ensure that they keep the prices affordable and assured that government will always be ready to do whatever it can to support all Nigerians at this time.

    “Of course, you also remember that in the morning, he welcomed a group of school children, also because tomorrow (Saturday) is Children’s Day. And he wanted an opportunity to interact with the children. He took them to his office and also gave them gifts in the spirit of the celebration of Children’s Day”.

     

  • Peak Milk showers kids with gifts on Children’s Day

    Peak Milk showers kids with gifts on Children’s Day

    Peak Milk, the popular premium brand from the stable of Friesland Campina Wamco, has presented lots of gifts to children as they celebrated this year’s Children’s Day.

    The event took place at the Blue Roof of the Lagos State Television (LTV 8) complex in Ikeja, the Lagos State capital.

    It was witnessed by huge families from different parts of the state and neighbouring Ogun State and its environs.

    The children, who were dressed in various attires, were excited; many of them were seen running around, enjoying themselves.

    On the significance of the day, a parent Mrs. Hajara Ibrahim said she was elated to celebrate the day with the children.

    The elated mother said her busy schedule at work in the last three years had prevented her from relating well with the children, hence the need to utilise the opportunity better.

    She said: “I have been found wanting, especially in spending quality time with the children. At least, today has made me appreciate the need to understand them better. I am highly excited to be here with them. We have really had fun and they are happy that all of us are here with them.”

    Another parent, Mr. Adebayo Abimbola, noted that children are the future leaders.

    He said they require adequate attention and necessary grooming.

    Abimbola said an occasion, like Children’s Day, is an opportunity for parents to bond with children.

    He noted that values and other essentials of human development had been lacking in them because parents were not spending enough time with their kids.

    Some of the children hailed the management of Peak Milk for making the gathering memorable.

    One of them, Michael Daniel, who is dreaming of becoming a doctor, said the dairy company had done well by celebrating the children, especially with the donation of books and presentation of milk products to everyone at the event.

    No fewer than 30 educational institutions attended the event.