By Jude Menuba
Parents have been called upon to educate children properly to fit into the need and requirements of the 21st century.
This call was made by Mrs Chioma Cyril-oleh in Abuja at the weekend during the celebration of the Day of the African Child. Mrs. Chioma Cyril-oleh, who was former State Representative of the Young Woman Christian Association of Nigeria (YWCA), FCT Abuja made this call during an event organized by the YWCA Gwarimpa Abuja branch at Junior Secondary school Kubwa 3.
According to her, parents should not be too busy to pay attention to the welfare of their children and wards but they should see the training of their children as top priority. Mrs. Cyril-oleh decried incessant abuse of children by some members of the society and called for stiffer penalties against abuses of minors. She called on governments at all levels to make education at primary and secondary school levels available, affordable and compulsory.
In her keynote address at the event, Dr Mrs Joan Jummai Idonijie, enjoined children to always demand for their rights. She advised the children to demand quality education as a right from parents and guardians.
Dr. Idonijie is the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics at the Maryam Babangida National Center for Women Development. She was also a former Senior Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister for Women Affairs.
In her speech, the principal of the host secondary school which served as the venue of the celebration, Hajiya Aisha Kaka-Umar, reminded children of their roles as leaders of tomorrow and called on them to take their studies seriously in other to prepare for their future roles.
She was accompanied to the event by her two vice principals, Mrs Christiana Obong and Hajiya Sidirat Momoh.
The theme for this year’s celebration is Educate an Africa Child fit for the 21st century.
