Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, on Wednesday, said that his administration will continue to prioritise the welfare and education of children in the state, to promote decent future leaders.
Mr Mbah said this when he received the Enugu State Children’s Parliament, led by its Speaker, Chimamanda Amobi, at the Government House.
The governor reiterated his administration’s zero tolerance for all forms of child abuse, including child marriage, sexual abuse and exploitation, child labour, child trafficking, among others.
Mr Mbah noted that a society which failed to invest in quality education and welfare of its children, had already compromised its future.
“You represent the hopes, the dreams and the future of Enugu State; Your coming here today reminds us why we must continue to work tirelessly to build an Enugu State where every child can learn, grow and succeed.
“Our tagline is Tomorrow is Here, and that our tomorrow is largely you; You are the tomorrow we talk about, You are the tomorrow we see, and we can touch you. Yes, you are at the heart of our government.
“Everything that we do, including our projects, is all centered around you because you are the real investment, You are the real future we can build,” he said.
The governor noted that although the gains of his administration’s investments in education, especially construction of 260 Smart Green Schools, would be fully felt years after he must have left office.
“Free quality education is the right of our children; we are not doing you any favour, and we have not only provided nine years of free education as provided by UNESCO, we are providing 12 years of free education in Enugu State.
“And it is absolutely free, from school uniforms to writing materials and one square meal daily.
“The Smart Green Schools are a platform where we can get our children to express the best version of who they are and to express and optimally use the gift that God has given each of them,” he said.
He explained that the Smart Green Schools initiative was designed to take care of their health and growth.
Mr Mbah, however, enjoined Enugu children to imbibe and uphold the values of fairness, honesty, fear of God and humility for which Enugu people are known.
He warned that anyone who subjects any child to any form of abuse in Enugu State, would have government to contend with.
Earlier, the Speaker, Ms Amobi, who made a passionate call for more investments in children’s welfare and education by government, commended Mbah for putting Enugu children at the heart of his administration.
“I want to appreciate the child-friendly governor of Enugu State, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, on behalf of Enugu children, for his numerous achievements in child health and development in Enugu State,” she said.
The children were accompanied by the commissioner for children, gender affairs and Social development, Ngozi Enih; permanent secretary, Nkechinyere Ewoh; and the communications officer (Advocacy and Partnerships), UNICEF Nigeria, Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe.
(NAN)