CHILDREN’s DAY: LASUBEB Advocates Academic, Spiritual Investment In Children

In commemoration of the Year 2020 Children’s Day celebration, the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, LASUBEB, has called on parents to invest massively in both the academic and spiritual upliftment of their children.

The Chairman of LASUBEB, Mr. Wahab Alawiye-King made the call during a special prayer session organised by the Board in commemoration of this years’ Children’s Day celebration, stating that academic excellence through spiritual rebirth is needed to succeed in life.

He said that the present situation that has made it difficult for school children to gather for learning or celebration across the world needs spiritual intervention, hence the decision of the Board to hold the special prayer session.

In his words, “This prayer session is a spiritual investment in the future of our children. It is our fervent belief and prayer that this pandemic ends soon. We hope that our children for whom we have organised this feel appreciated and celebrated”.

Alawiye-King encouraged the children to also adhere to all measures needed to keep COVID-19 pandemic at bay by complying with the directives on physical distancing, use of face masks, regular hand washing as well as good hygiene practices.

The Chairman maintained that it is imperative for parents and guardians to know that investment in the future of school children cannot be handled by the government alone.

“There is a need for strong collaboration with NGO’s, corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals for the provision of free, compulsory, accessible and qualitative basic education. I seize this opportunity to appreciate those that have already contributed to this cause while imploring others to emulate them”, Alawiye-King stated.

While noting that the State government expects normalcy to return to the education sector as soon as possible, the Chairman averred that although the world is at a standstill because of the pandemic, the State government has ensured that school pupils continue to learn while at home.

He said “In order to ensure that our pupils do not lose touch with their academics despite the lockdown, a Programme tagged ‘The Classroom in Your Home’ was introduced by the State government as an expansion of our existing interactive radio instruction programme. This is aired on Lagos Television three times a week to keep the children engaged and learning at the same time”.

The Chairman appreciated Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; the State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo; LASUBEB Board Members and Secretary as well as all stakeholders in the education sector, whose support has made the State’s Education sector a model to other States in the federation.

Dr, Abdulgarfar Kukoyi, the Muslim Cleric invited for the occasion, admonished the children to run away from indiscipline and not waste their time on frivolous things, while his Christian counterpart, Dr. Felix Akinnusi, encouraged parents to invest in their children by giving them quality education.

Similarly, the State Government has also donated gifts and food items to various Orphanages, Homes and Children Centres in commemoration of the Year 2020 Children’s Day.

The gesture, according to the Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Segun Dawodu, is a way of identifying with the children, especially those in Children Centres across the State who may not be easily remembered for the celebration.

The Commissioner, who monitored the presentation of the various household items, food and drinks to the representatives of the beneficiaries today at Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, said that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, despite competing commitments still granted approval for the Ministry to celebrate the Children’s Day.

While noting that the Governor had earlier in the day, during a Special Address to mark the occasion, decried the impact of the present situation on this year’s celebration, Dawodu assured children across the State that the present administration is doing everything to improve their welfare.

“Normally, today being Children’s Day, the usual practice is that we will gather children together for merriment and celebrations but since the usual gathering cannot take place this year because of COVID-19 pandemic, the government decided to extend this gesture to Orphanages at this particular time”, the Commissioner explained.

The representative of one of the benefiting orphanages, Little Saints Orphanage, Ruth Nnamdi, described the gesture of government as an act of love and kindness that would for long be remembered and appreciated by the children because this is probably what they least expected on a day like this.

Also, the Matron of K. Olubukola Fowowe Memorial Children Centre, Oke-Ira, Ogba, Mrs. Titilola Omole, said that the children will feel happy that, despite being in an orphanage, the government provided items and remembered them on their special day.

“What we will do is that when we get back to our centre, we will explain to these children the source of this gesture which is the government, so that they can always know that the government remembers them”, she said