Lagos – Lagos State Government says it will continue to invest in children so as to secure an enviable future for them.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mrs Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu stated this during an event organised by the Ministry to commemorate this year’s Children’s Day celebration on Wednesday, May 31.
She described children as an asset that deserve the investment of the state government.
Oke-Osanyintolu spoke on the theme ” Investing In Our Future Means Investing In Our Children.”
“I stand to say that it is the collective responsibility of all stakeholders like parents, educators, and policy makers to invest in the holistic growth of these children, thereby giving every child that space and opportunity to flourish and excel,” She said.
The Permanent Secretary added, “the Children’s Day Celebration serves as a platform to honour and celebrate our children’s extraordinary potentials and valuable contributions to the society.
“Through a wider range of activities,we hope to ignite their imagination to innovate, nurture their talents and encounter their personal growth, thereby shaping a future of limitless possibilities and remarkable achievements.”
Commending school teachers for their dedication to the upbringing of the children, Oke-Osanyintolu urged the children to ensure that their voices, dreams and ideas were brought to the limelight for them to create a better future.
In her presentation, Lagos State Youth Ambassador, Zainab Aderounmu, implored children to take advantage of education being offered them by their parents by starting early whatever they are good at because every global player started early.
In his presentation, Child Protection Specialist and UNiCEF Nigeria Representative, Mr Dennis Onoise advised the children to endeavor to put to practice everything they are taught by their teachers.
Onoise pointed out that Children Legal Identity, Ending Violence Against Children and Female Genital Mutilation are three issues that the government should put in the front burner in order to ensure that investment in the children are worthwhile.
On her part, President, Solid Foundation Ministries, Mrs Gbemi Agbato noted that for the investment in the children not to go down the drains, they should ensure that they take cognisance of character, courage, circle, contentment, career, channel of blessings and communication as ingredients required to make the investment being made by their parents and government profitable.
(LSMO/vitalnewsngr.com)
