Children’s Day: ‘Kogi Govt Prioritising Our Children’s Well Being’ – Commissioner
ATABOR JULIUS LOKOJA
The Kogi Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Fatimah Momoh, has reaffirmed the commitment of Gov. Ahmed Ododo’s administration to giving utmost priority to the well being of children in the state.
Hajia Momoh gave the assurance on Monday at the 2024 Children’s Day celebration held at Muhammad Buhari Square in Lokoja.
She noted that Kogi Government had been meticulous in allocating high resources to the sector, guaranteeing qualitative and people çentric education to the citizens.
The Commissioner stressed that the children remained the heartbeat of any nation and as such, are destined to be leaders of tomorrow, emphasising the need to harness their talents at early ages.
“The theme of this year’s celebration, ” Enhancing the Total wellbeing of the Nigerian child through Education and Skills Development” is apt in the role children play in shaping the future of the country,” she said.
According to her, the government is committed to quality education for all children and the full implementation of the Child Rights Act in the state.
The Commissioner charged parents and all stakeholders to ensure that students attained their full potentials.
She urged students to be stars of today and tomorrow, and to avoid acts detrimental to their education progression.
In his remarks, the state’s Commissioner for Education, Hon Wemi Jones, FCIB, emphasised that public schools in the state remained tuition free and as such, any principal or head teacher who smuggle fees into the system does so at his or her perils.
The commissioner warned that any erring officials will be severely punished, and advised parents and students to report erring officials to the Authority.
He stressed that the government had prioritised education and was giving all the needed attention to the functional growth of the education subsector..
Jones maintained that since the assumption of office of the immediate past and present administrations, education has been in the front burner of its thematic areas of concentration.
He disclosed that the administration had successfully enacted education law which exemptd students and pupils from payment of both internal and external examinations.
This, he said included WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, JAMB, BECE and other sundry charges, while advising parents and students to report any infraction from their schools.
“No students is allowed to pay fees in any guise. Both internal examinations and public examinations, such as, Waec, Neco , Nabteb, Jamb and BECE are free.
“I am calling on parents and students to report any erring principals, and we are resolute to punish them accordingly” he said..
He added that in line with the philosophy of state government to guarantee qualitative education, had approved over 30 per cent of budgetary allocation to the sector far above the UNESCO recommended 26 per cent..
According to him, the education trajectory of these administrations had surpassed previous governments before 2016, the investment has restored confidence to the public schools in the state.
He said, for proper planning , the free fees are targeted at public schools for now, however, private schools consideration would be effected in the future.
Jones advised students to justify the huge investment outlay on them by taking their studies seriously, even as extra curricular activities could be an added advantage.
He used the occasion to mourn with the two students who lost their lives du the recent abduction of students of Confluence University of Science and Technology Osara.
The commissioner used the occasion to.mourned the death of two students of Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, who were among the 25 students abducted in the school by bandits. .
Om her part, the Deputy Speaker, Kogi House of Assembly, RT. Hon. Comfort Egwaba, admonised students to maintain their position as the pride of the nation.
She assured them that Gov’ Ahmed Usman Ododo would continue to mobilise resources for the transformation of education sector in the state.
The highlights of the Children Day celebration include, Students match past, callisthenics display, carnival shows , Music and dance, among others.
End
