Parents, Teachers, religious and political leaders have been urged to stand up to their responsibility and challenges of instilling the consciousness of National values in young people to prepare Nigerian Children for greatness.
A representative of Ondo Central District who won the 2022 spelling Bee competition, Miss Elizabeth Ogunmodede charged the stakeholders at the Grand Finale of the 2023 National Children’s Day celebration held on May 27, at the Gani Fawehinmi freedom Square, Akure.
Ogunmodede who presented a paper on” what is the state of the Nigerian Children Today?”, described children of today with a phrase that “The positive state of the Nigerian Children today is negatively deteriorating, both morally, academically and socially.
She said positive opportunity usage of the social media is not fully utilize by children declaring that the ratio of children who visit social media for the right reasons is just 1:10.
This among many other distractions, she observed, have caused the Nigerian Children to develop a poor reading culture which practically attributed to why some resort to examination malpractices leading to destruction of academic lives dues to engagement of people in examination malpractices such that they could not defend the grades they got from it and becomes virus spreading to infect many others.
According to her, the menace could only be curbed if stakeholders address the issue looking at proper parenting in homes as a tool for value reorientation, involvement of educational institutions in the society, calling on the religious institutions in the nation and the government parastatals of the society.
Speaking at the event, the Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu reiterated the commitment of his administration towards child protection and wellbeing through pre-emptive and preventive activities and measures in the state.
The Governor who was represented by the State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Otunba Bamidele Ologun, congratulated all the children that have excelled and promoted the image of the state and the parents and guardians who are committed stakeholders in the care, upbringing and education of an average child in the State.
He said government has tackled many security challenges of children leading to pupils and students winning laurels per excellence for the state recently.
He, therefore enjoined Parents and guardians to complement all these children life-saving initiative of the government, while the children must be responsible and responsive to future achievements.
Earlier in her welcome speech, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr (Mrs)Olubunmi Osadaun, said a nation can only be developed to an optimum level by providing a safe conducive and enabling environment free of danger, abuse, neglect, violence among others to children.
The Commissioner affirmed that the State scorecard is uniquely of high percentage success being the only State that provided for the well-being of a neonate to adulthood through Solayo-safe motherhood project to pensioners entitlement.
Dr Osadaun noted that the 2023 theme is unique as it centred around children’s well-being and the motto of the day which are “Keep children innocent today, tomorrow and forever.
Children are the key to paradise , Children are the future of a nation” adding that they are the one to keep the world in motion.
While stressing the need to provide a blueprint for child”s development, she said wise parents must observe, monitor and be involved in all stages and note all socio -psycho presentations of the child for solutions.
Highlight of the occasion include, March/ cultural parade, special rendition, prayer for the Nation and children, presentation of speeches on the theme by students, gifts presentation, exhibition of inventions among others.
