By Cleopatra Eki
Haija lslamiat Oshodi, National President, Association for Childhood Education Practitioners (ACEP) has urged Stakeholders in the Country on the need to make mentoring a key area of focus when setting goals for child development in their respective organizations.
She was speaking at the National Children’s event with theme “Greater Nigeria Better Tomorrow” held at Obele Community Centre Surulere Lagos.
“There is dignity in labour. Education comes first. Our objective today is to showcase role models with good leadership skills in governance and right orientation to our children and youth.”
The event brought together like minds poised to collaborate with other stakeholders such as the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Ministries, Agencies and NGOs.
‘’ACEP is concerned about the plights faced by Nigerian students hence we are starting from Lagos State to showcase the Heroes that helped in the Nation’s capacity building and Development. We hope to replicate the noble initiative in other states of the country. The books on Sustainable Development goals donated by United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) were given to primary and secondary students by ACEP to come up with books on sustainable Development Goals 13 and l6 ‘’
She added that role models and senior citizens such as late Alhaji Latif Jakande, Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Femi Okunu, have contributed immensely to Educational sector besides politics.
The ACEP President charged the children to recognize and appreciate good senior citizens who have contributed immensely to development in the society. She encouraged them to write books on Nation builders who have impacted good governance in future leaders. These books written by the children according to her would be published by ACEP and such books would stand the test of time from one generation to another.
Chief Executive officer/convener Speaking Fingers Network, Treasures Uchegbu said collaboration of the event with UNIC, ACEP, and other implementing Partners is aimed at advocating for the Education, Exposure, and Expression of the innate potential of every child especially children with disabilities.
Uchegbu emphasized that all hands must of necessity be on deck to provide the platform for children to develop Skills, Life living Functional Skills, build their Leadership Capacity and implement relevant Policy and legal framework such as the Sustainable Development Goals, Special People’s law in Lagos and the Nigerian Disability Law for Greater Nigerian, Better tomorrow leaving No Child Behind.
Head Child Protection Unit, Ministry of Youth Sports and Development Mrs Abiola Osinfowutan said Lagos State government is concerned about child’s rights and protection, hence it has several agencies to protect children, women and vulnerable people.
Osinfowutan appealed to all stakeholders to continuously assist all children including People living with disabilities to chart their course while no person is discriminated against.
Some of the beneficiary schools were Obele-Odan Community Primary Schools , Adeniji Primary schools, Great learners Academy and The Learners Park Nursery and Primary schools Lagos.
