Wife of the Governor of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, flanked by students of Shepard International College, Ado-Ekiti, after receiving their trophy for coming first in the State March Past during the Children's Day Celebration, in Ado-Ekiti.
The exhilarating gymnastic displays during the 2013 Children’s Day Celebration in Ekiti State will leave a long-lasting memory on pupils and parents that thronged the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti, for the event, on Monday.
The fiesta provided opportunities for Ekiti children across the 16 local government areas of the state to mingle and engage in healthy competition. It was also an avenue for the state government to renew its pact with the students on the free and compulsory education policy up to the secondary school level.
Shouts of joy rented the air as winners of essay competition, Ado-Ekiti and State March Past were presented with gifts and trophies.
The Governor of the State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who was represented at the celebration by his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, harped on the theme of this year’s celebration, “Our children, our future, our collective responsibility.”
Delivering the governor’s address, the First Lady promised that government would create a healthy and safe childhood environment for children in the state to harness their potentials.
She explained that the Day was an opportunity for adults to deeply and truly connect with the child within them, stressing that a nation where children were well nurtured would be virile.
The governor’s wife reiterated that the Dr. Kayode Fayemi-led administration is committed to the promotion and protection of children’s rights in every community. Against this backdrop, she said that the state’s Child Rights Law and other related provisions would be implemented to the letters, with a warning that violators of the right of the child would be brought to justice in accordance with the laws.
As students continued to benefit from the free education policy of the state, she appealed to parents and other stakeholders to join hands with government to enhance the education standard of the state.
Erelu Fayemi reminded the gathering of the ongoing survey on Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) spearheaded by the state government, in collaboration with the Ekiti Development Foundation and other development partners.
She said that the exercise would engender scientific-based evidence and enhance effective planning and programming for the children.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs Fola Richie-Adewusi stressed the need for parents to create conducive learning environment atmosphere for their children.
The commissioner also urged parents and guardians to keep a close tab on the children by ensuring that they did not derail in learning and character.
She commended the state government for according priority attention to issues affecting children, as evident in the provision of free health services for pregnant women and children under five, among others.
The high point of the ceremony was the presentation of prizes to winners of march past and essay competitions, where Shepherd International High School, Ado-Ekiti; Moba Grammar School, Otun-Ekiti; and Ojorube Grammar School, Ilawe Ekiti, outshined other schools.
Last modified: May 27, 2013
