As Nigeria joins the world to mark the 2016 Children’s Day, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has admonished parents to provide the right conditions for their children to express themselves, pursue their dreams and enjoy their rights in order to prepare them for tomorrow’s leadership.
NOA Director General, Dr. Garba Abari gave the admonition in an interactive session with students from selected schools in the Federal Capital Territory organized by the Agency at Pyramid of Excellence School, Abuja. With the programme theme, “Protect the Rights of the Child in the Face of Violence and Insecurity: End Child Marriage”, Abari stressed the need to respect children’s rights as any abuse on any child is an injury to society.
Represented by the Director, Public Education and Mass Mobilization in the Agency, Dr. Gerald Adewole, Abari sensitized the children on their rights while urging them to speak up against all forms of abuse by reporting to authorities. He also charged all agencies responsible for the monitoring and enforcement of children’s rights to up their game.
Abari however urged Nigerian children to imbibe the values of honesty, discipline, integrity and hard work, noting that President Muhammadu Buhari exemplifies these virtues as a good role model for Nigerian children.
In her remarks, the Proprietress, Pyramid of Excellence Schools, Ambassador Uzoma Ihedirimadu-Abudu charged Nigerian children to embrace the morals of respect for elders, decent dressing and the fear of God for which African societies are known so as to preserve their African heritage. She also called on parents to return to the African folklore tradition as a veritable means of inculcating values in the children.
Highlight of the event was the cutting of the Children’s Day cake by the children waving the Nigerian Flag.