Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has urged children not to toy with their future, but be determined to build a better nation.
Sanwo-Olu gave the advice on Friday in Ikeja, during the 2022 Children’s Day Celebration – Parade & Rally, with the theme: A Better Future for Every Child.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Folashade Jaji, he said that if the children were determined, they would achieve a lot.
According to him, education remains the veritable means for the children to attain greatness, as it helps to prepare individuals for life’s challenges.
”As children, you cannot afford to toy with your future. I urge you to always dream of a better Nation. Whatever you can conceive, you can achieve, provided you are determined to pay the price.
”Therefore, there is need for you to strive hard to make your parents and the entire state proud through your acts. This will inspire in us the zeal to further fulfill our ambition of raising young individuals and quality leaders that will give us that greater future, as a state and nation,” he said.
The governor also urged the children to embrace modern technologies, as there were different educational applications on mobile phones that would enhance their creativity and critical thinking.
He called on parents and guardians to protect the children from all harms, by providing better childhood, in order to give them a promising future.
”We owe them a duty to ensure that their dreams and aspirations are realised through continuous training, guidance and mentoring.
”Therefore, I urge you parents/guardians to inculcate the right values in them which will enable them to shun all social vices. I pray that they will continue to be source of joy to you all and our Great State,” Sanwo-Olu said.
In her welcome address, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, said that the children were the leaders of the future, hence, should strive to take up that mantle of leadership.
Adefisayo commended Gov. Sanwo-Olu and the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, for their genuine interest in the education, welfare and comfort of every child in Lagos State.
”You are the future of our dear state and nation, therefore, I implore you to continue to work harder and excel both in academic and co-curricular activities.
”The State Government has put a lot of facilities at your disposal and you have to effectively use them to your advantage,” she said.
READ ALSO: CBN Debunks Rumour About Alleged Sack Of Emefiele
In her goodwill message, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), said that children were the future and therefore, needed to be nurtured appropriately, so that they would grow up to be able and compassionate leaders.
Vivour-Adeniyi said that the society has a huge role to play in ensuring that the purity of children was preserved.
She said that children must be made to feel precious, wanted and loved in every way, as they were the real strength of a nation and foundation of society.
According to her, the society at large must strive to create an enabling community for children to develop and grow freely in a safe environment.
”Such community is one where we, as persons can hold each other accountable and foster the habit of safeguarding the rights of children and employing the use of best practices to keep children out of harm’s way.
”My charge to you lovely children is that you remain focused. Do not be distracted. Childhood is the best time to learn new things/ideas, set goals, be focused and committed in fulfilling your dreams.
”Do not give in to negative peer pressure. If you are experiencing any form of abuse or the other, be it domestic or sexual abuse, please speak up. Tell a trusted adult, tell your teacher, keep telling someone until something is done about the situation,” she said. (NAN)
