Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has warned the children in the state against bad influence as they commemorate the 2022 Children’s Day.
In a statement issued by the state’s chief press secretary on Friday, Governor Akeredolu recognized children as priceless blessings from God which must be groomed and nourished.
The Governor pledged that his administration will always give priority to the overall welfare of children in Ondo State.
In the area of education, Akeredolu recounted that through the State Universal Basic Education Board, his administration has provided accessible and affordable education to the children in the state.
“Our administration recognizes the importance of massive investment in the future of our children. In our first term, we deployed huge resources in reconstructing our public primary schools to ensure that our children learn in a conducive environment. We are not resting on our oars.
We have also employed qualified teachers into our public primary schools to bridge the long time dearth of teachers in our schools. Through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), we didn’t only employ teachers, we have also ensured that they were properly deployed even to the rural communities.
The primacy accorded to accessible and affordable education of children in the sunshine state, under our administration, birthed the payment of WAEC fees and our unwavering commitment to quality education for our children” ,he remarked.
He further assured everyone in the state that he will keep investing in the education of children because they are important to Nigeria.
“We believe that education is the key to a better tomorrow. It is our resolve to continue to invest in education for the future empowerment of our children. They are critical stakeholders in the country”, he reiterated.
On the issue of security, the governor promised to unflinchingly protect and secure the rights and lives of all children in Ondo State.
“We shall continue to pursue and protect the basic rights of children in the sunshine state, in line with global expectations from States contained in the United Nations Child’s Rights Convention, 1989, domesticated as Nigeria’s Child’s Rights Act 2003, and Ondo State Child’s Rights Law, in 2007.
The protection, survival and development of children shall continue to be our top priority. For us in Ondo State, our eyes are on building enduring legacies that will change the fortune of our state for good and create a prosperous state for our children who are the leaders of tomorrow. We are planting trees, under which shades, they shall rest”, he stressed.
Governor Akeredolu appreciated the children while imploring them to keep good company and shun bad peer group influence.
