Lagos State Governor, Mr Babjide Sanwo-Olu has called on parents and guardians to live up to expectations of nurturing their children and/or wards in good ideals towards actualisation of their dreams and aspirations.
Sanwo-Olu gave the charge at the 2022 Children’s Day Celebration (Parade and Rally) in Lagos State, on Friday, saying while the State is committed to children’s development through educational policies and programmes, parent must be responsive to their obligations of training and nurturing their children.
Sanwo-Olu who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Folasade Jaji, said the theme of the Celebration, “A Better Future for Every Child” was apt in line with the Child’s Right Protection Law.
He lamented that children are now falling victims of various vices as violence, rape, child abuse, drug abuse, deprivation of happiness and parents’ love and care.
He urged “parents and guardians to inculcate the right values, with continuous training, guidance, and mentoring, to ensure their (children) dreams and aspirations are actualised.”
According to him, the celebration was an “opportunity to reflect and renew our commitment to build a society that would guarantee for a better future.”
“The State is continuously embarking on series of initiatives and intervention programmes in line with the Child’s Right Protection Law,” he said.
According to him, over 1,449 projects covering 136 schools have been executed by the administration across the State as part of the Government’s effort to improve teaching and learning in primary and secondary schools.
“This projects include construction, renovation and rehabilitation of dilapidated public schools and supply of basic units of furniture, among other infrastructures,” he said.
He disclosed the reflections of the investment have begun to take course as the results of the performance of the students in the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) have experienced a boost in the minimum five credit requirements, including English and Mathematics, with an upscale from 38.79 percent in 2020 to 80 percent in 2021.
He assured the government will do its best to implement policies and programmes to “nurture children with the ideals of quality education, ensuring no child is left behind.”
Sanwo-Olu said his administration has intensified effort on the project zero tolerance policy to curb the rate of out-of-school children to bring them back to the classrooms.
He disclosed the State has commenced the comprehensive school model in 12 schools, as a pilot, to give opportunities for student to learn a range of vocational skills alongside academic curriculum.
According to him, the Government intend to increase the comprehensive schools to 50 before the end of year 2022.
“Our administration will continue to invest in the education of our children and will not relent in retaining our several recreational programmes introduced to develop our human capital, making teaching and learning conducive,” he assured.
Sanwo-Olu urged the children to explore the advantage of technology to enhance their creative thinking skills, taking full advantage of the deliverables of E-learning models.
“In addition, you need to add and embrace modern technologies,” he said, mentioning that “in today’s world, there are different educational applications on mobile phones that would impact your creativity.”
“Beacuse of incorporation of technology into the school curriculum, you must try update yourselves in the lastest,” he charged.
Sanwo-Olu urged the students “to strive hard to make the entire State and their parent proud” saying that would inspire the government for stronger investment.
Charging them against toying with their future, he urged them to dream of a better nation, saying “whatever you can conceive, you can achieve, provided you are determined.”
“My dear children, may I at this junction remind you that education remains a veritable means of attaining greatness,” he said, charging them to “strive hard to make your parents and the entire state proud. Do your part. This would inspire us to further fulfil our mission to raise young and quality leaders that will lead us.”
He appreciated teachers for their “relentless contributions and outstanding initiatives towards ensuring their students are actively engaged.”
The State’s Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, appreciated Governor Sanwo-Olu the State’s Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat for what she described as “their genuine interest in the education, welfare and comfort of every child in Lagos State.”
“It is imperative to note that your immense support, investment in education and the mileage covered are legendary,” she said.
“I must let you know that the administration of our Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has invested enormously in your education by providing all that you need to meet your true potentials,” she told the children.
She implored the children, as future leaders, “to continue to work harder and excel both in academic and co-curricular activities,” reminding them that the State Government “has put a lot of facilities at your disposal and you have to effectively use them to your advantage.”
Speaking on the impacts of the investment on performance and quality of education, she said: “It is interesting to note that our students have continued to distinguish themselves in national and international competitions winning several laurels and trophies for the State.”
She noted that despite the various contending needs struggling for resource allocation in the State, the administration has continued to commit huge resources to the upbringing and wellbeing of children in Lagos State.
“This administration is raising the stake to higher levels and our children have shown competence to match their counterparts anywhere in the world by winning laurels at home and abroad, their ingenuity in competitions is very encouraging and all points to the fact that our future is in the hand of good and reliable keepers,” Adefisayo observed.
Executive Secretary, Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Lagos State, Mrs. Titilola Vivour, said “children are the best creation of God, the future, and therefore needs to be nurtured appropriately to grow up and become able and compassionate leaders.”
“Children are the strength of the nation and the foundation of our society,” she said, calling for the protection of child’s right.
“Under Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration, matters relating to important treatment and abuse of children has taken centre stage,” she said, stating the Government remains “committed to ensuring the well being and best interest” of children.
She charged the children to speak out when they are faced with threats of any form of abuse, domestic or sexual violence.
“Please speak up, tell a trusted adult, tell your teachers, keep telling someone until something is done,” she charged them.
2022 One Day Governor and student at Oriwu Senior Model College, Abdulazeez Abdulraman, appreciated governor Sanwo-Olu for the annual upward increase in the budgetary allocation for education.
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