Lagos State is spending N113.3billion of its N662billion budget on education this year, Deputy Governor Dr Idiat Adebule has said.
She said the education vote was a third of the Federal Government’s N369billion for the sector.
Speaking at the Children’s Day at the Police College Parade Ground in Ikeja on Friday, Mrs Adebule, said the budget reflected the priority his administration places on education.
She said the priority would also reflect on how people who abuse children would be treated, noting that the government is in the forefront of “Stopping violence against children”, which is the theme of this year’s Children’s Day celebration.
She said: “Recent findings from Violence Against Children (VAC) survey have disclosed that six out of every 10 (60 per cent) children under age 18 are being abused in the society, especially by the people they refer to as family members.
“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 state, he said, would no longer tolerate child abuse, domestic violence, child trafficking or violation of any law on the development of children.
Anyone caught violating the Child Rights law either through child abuse, trafficking or domestic violence, he said, would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
She warned perpetrators of these acts to desist, lamenting that they are becoming the norm today rather than an aberration.
Mrs Adebule said the One –meal- a- day for pupils would soon begin, adding that the distribution of special tablets containing their academic curriculum is also receiving attention to enhance effective teaching/learning possible through the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT).
At a Children’s Day celebration organised by Lagos Television (LTV), Mrs Adebule called on parents to always be available for their children.
She said: “We need to know that our roles as parents does not end at just providing them books and uniforms but we should also be prepared to listen to them always. If we don’t make ourselves accessible to our children, they would not be able to talk with us.”
The deputy governor urged the children to be security conscious as child trafficking and abuse are on the rise.
Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Mrs Lola Akande at another event, said violence against children comes in different forms, adding that the act causes physical and emotional harm to the growth of the child.
Mrs Akande enjoined parents to teach their children the virtues of honesty, dedication and love, saying no duty is more important to parents than to ensure that their children are cared for and protected.
The governor’s wife, Mrs Bolanle Ambode, represented by Prof Ibiyemi Bello, described children as priceless gifts from God and fountains of joy to parents.
She described Children’s Day as a day set aside to celebrate children and draw government’s attention to their challenges.
Speaking on behalf of the children, Lagos State Children Parliament Speaker Tobi Daniel thanked government and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation for hosting the children to a grand celebration to mark the 2016 Children’s Day.
At the Academic Conference for the Primary and Secondary School pupils organised by the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Area Council, Mushin, Lagos to commemorate the Children’s Day in Ilupeju, the President, Mallam AbdulJeleel Gbadamosi urged parents to monitor the television programmes their children watch.
“Parents are meant to play an essential role in the upbringing of the child’s in order to be useful to the society. Most of the children both in primary and secondary schools are being exposed to social media site such as Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram and so on which most of their contents are non-educative. This, in turn corrupt the minds of these young folks and affect their academic performance,” he said.
