CALABAR– As Nigeria joins the world in celebrating Children’s Day themed “Little Footsteps, Big Future,” the former Deputy Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Orok Otu Duke (Ph.D), has called for urgent and sustained efforts to secure the future of the Nigerian child through deliberate policies and people-driven action NEGROIDHAVEN can report.
In a goodwill message released to mark the occasion, Duke highlighted the enduring challenges Nigerian children face, including limited access to quality education, healthcare, poverty, and exploitation. He described children as “future leaders, innovators, and change-makers” whose welfare must be treated as a national priority.
“As leaders, it is our responsibility to create an enabling environment that fosters their growth and development,” he stated.
Duke urged both the government and the citizenry to recommit to investing in children’s welfare, emphasizing the need for education, nutrition, protection from abuse and violence, and access to skills acquisition programs.
“Let us strive to create a society that values, protects, and empowers our young ones to thrive. As we invest in our children, we invest in the future of our country Nigeria,” the statement read in part.
Extending warm wishes to children across the country, he said, “May your dreams and aspirations be nurtured, and may you become the leaders we need to build a brighter future for our nation.”
The statement comes at a time when millions of especially Nigerian children continue are out of school, despite national and international commitments to child rights and welfare. According to statistics by UNICEF, 10.2 million children are out of primary school, while 8.1 million children are out of junior secondary, as 12.4 million Nigerian children have never attended school, and 5.9 million children have left school early.
Children’s Day is observed globally, and annually including Nigeria on May 27 to honor and promote the rights and welfare of children.
