In spite of the socio-economic problems confronting the nation, Nigerian children in primary and secondary schools, filed out to celebrate the Children’s Day on Monday.
At various state capitals, local government secretariats and strategic places, schoolchildren, security forces, para-military agencies took part in march pasts.
In some states, the children took part in calisthenics to entertain the audience.
How children were celebrated in the states
In Lagos State, Governor Babatunde Fashola, who celebrated with the children and others at the Police College, Ikeja, did not fail to warn the children against drugs, cultism and other vices.
Fashola, who spoke after inspecting the children’s parade, advised them to remain focused on their studies and avoid distraction, saying engaging in social vices and joining cult groups could derail their future.
Fashola told the children that there had been some unpleasant reports of kidnapping in the state, urging them to be vigilant.
He said, “In order to remain safe, you must desist from boarding unregistered vehicles or vehicles that are not painted in the state yellow and black colour. You should also be wary of the type of companies you keep.”
In Ondo State, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, at the celebration held at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Arcade in Akure, reiterated his administration’s commitment to child-friendly programmes.
According to him, programmes like Abiye safe-motherhood, mother and child hospital, mega schools and free shuttle buses, among others, will be vigorously pursued to alleviate the sufferings of the parents and add value to the lives of the children.
Mimiko said the theme of this year’s celebration, ‘Our children, Our Future, Our Collective Responsibility’ was timely in view of the unhealthy handling of children’s issues by some parents.
In Akwa Ibom State, the Federal Government said it would establish National Children Resource Centre by 2014 to take care of issues relating to development and welfare of Nigerian children.
Deputy Governor of the state, Valerie Ebe, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan at the celebration, said in Uyo that the centre would also provide information and communication technology training for the children.
Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, who spoke in Jos during the state’s celebration, urged parents to take care of their children to make their future better.
Jang said his government was passionate about the protection of the rights of the children, stressing that it was against that backdrop that his administration signed into law the Child Rights Act since 2005.
He, however, lamented that quite a number of children did not have access to quality education while they suffered high mortality rate.
In Oyo State, the Children’s Day was celebrated with pomp and circumstance, but 15 heads of schools would not forget in a hurry their experience as they were summoned for improper dressing of some pupils.
Ajimobi, who spoke shortly after taking salute at Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, observed that while some of the children put on torn clothes, others appeared dirty and unkempt, with their shoes not matching their uniforms.
He reiterated his government’s efforts at raising the consciousness of parents, families and the society at large on the critical need to promote the rights of children.
In Rivers State, Judith, wife of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, urged Nigerians to prioritise the welfare and protection of the rights of the Nigerian child.
She said the destiny of the country was in the hands of the children, insisting that measures must be put in place to ensure the protection of their rights.
LGs celebrate children
At various local governments and local council development areas in Lagos, chairmen reiterated their commitments to raising the standard of living of the children.
In Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, the pupils had reasons to laugh as the Chairman, Mr. Obafemi Durosinmi, provided three 18-seater Hiace buses and 120-seater bus for free movement of primary and secondary school pupils.
Durosinmi also distributed free school bags, exercise books and other learning materials to aid the pupils’ learning process.
He advised the children to always keep good company.
In Oshodi-Isolo LG, Bolaji Muse-Ariyoh urged the parents to cater for their children’s upbringing and welfare to actualise their potential in lives.
Muse-Ariyoh said, “The children are the link between the present and the future and no nation that aspires to greatness can afford to relegate them to the background.”
At Ejigbo LCDA in Lagos, over 5000 pupils from over 15 public and private schools paraded through the main streets of the area.
Chairman of the council, Kehinde Bamigbetan, said this year’s celebration was unique.
In Ifelodun LCDA of Lagos, Chairman, Shuaib Ajidagba, said his government would focus on youth and children development policies and projects.
“The unprecedented development in educational infrastructure is true testimony to our commitment to educational sector,” Ajidagba said.
Organisations urge children to be focused
Organisations were also not left out in celebrating the children across the country.
On its part, the Nigeria Bottling Company Plc celebrated the children by engaging resource persons and professionals who gave them tips on how to become successful in life.
The event tagged, ‘The Define My Tomorrow Project’ was organised for public school pupils in Enugu and Oyo states.
Speakers such as musician, Yinka Ayefele, Africa’s only female Rear Admiral, Itunu Hotonu, Para Olympian, Loveline Obaji and Swiss-trained chef, Yemi Sangowawa, encouraged the children to choose career paths.
The producer of television programme, Crime Fighters-The Police and You, Mrs. Aisha Agberebi, lamented the involvement of children in crimes.
Agberebi said there was the need to nip the trend in the bud, stressing that a security awareness programme among the children should be emphasised.
She said the event was organised to commemorate Children’s Day and also inculcate in youths the need to be security conscious and vigilant.
Agberebi said, “While crime remains an issue of universal concern, there is a rising trend that is quite frightening. Increasingly young people are being manipulated into crimes such as armed robbery and kidnapping.
“We believe perhaps by capturing hearts like this, we may truly dissuade them from following that narrow path of criminality which inevitably leads to destruction.”
In commemoration of the annual Children’s Day, the Federal Road Safety Corps, Zone RS2, Lagos State, urged motorists in the country to always consider the safety of children when driving.
The programme, which held at the Zone’s office at Ojodu, Lagos and themed, ‘Safety of pedestrians’ was attended by children from several schools in Lagos.
Assistant Corps Commander Operations, Abdullahi Lawal, who represented the Ogun State Sector Commander, rated the safety of children on Nigerian roads as low.
He added that it was important for motorists to always obey traffic rules as well as think of children when driving.
Also, Executive Director, TOCS Foundation, Mrs. Temidayo Ogan, appealed to the government for a legislation that would check long distance trek of children from their homes to schools.
Stigmatised children celebrate
Children, who were stigmatised by parents for witchcraft practices and abandoned, graced the 2013 Children’s Day in Uyo on Monday.
The children were accommodated by Divine Children Home, which brought them for the celebration.
Lead trainer of the place, Miss Queen Favour, said the home provided a more conducive environment for the children.
Favour said the children who were in secondary schools were accommodated in the schools’ boarding houses, while those in primary schools go to school from the home..
She said, “I love children and I am just enjoying myself being with them. The only challenge I have is that I have to work harder because these children had issues in the past for which they were stressed. The home is trying to give them hope so that they can believe in themselves that they can go as far as they wish in their lives.”
Favour said the children were just like any other children, adding that to stigmatise them
“I don’t think what their parents accused them of really have any meaning. These children are wonderful children.”
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