Sam Philip
School pupils across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State on Tuesday converged on Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Arcade, Alagbaka, Akure, celebrated the 2025 Children’s Day in grand style.
The celebration was unique as the Special Adviser(Women Affairs and Social Development) Dr. Oluwaseun Osamaye redesigned the celebration integrating cultural display with the usual march past.
After the match past, pupils from 18 schools, representing each local government, displayed cultural dance unique to their host communities.
Trophies were won and prizes awarded to different pupils and schools that emerged best in the oratory debate organised by the state government as part of the Children’s Day celebration.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who saluted the children from the podium as they marched past, assured the children of the commitment of his administration to making life more conducive for them.
He charged all stakeholders to collaborate with the state government in the fight against bullying in schools both public and private in the state.
Aiyedatiwa said: “”We must all acknowledge that bullying is a form of aggressive behaviour where someone intentionally harms, intimidates or humiliates another person repeatedly. It can be physical, verbal or social — and it leaves lasting harm.
“Children who are bullied may suffer emotionally, physically and academically. It can lead to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, sleep disturbances and even social isolation.
“Bullying, whether in schools, on the playground or in digital spaces, is a threat to the confidence and emotional well-being of our children. It erodes their self-worth and stifles their dreams. But today and every day forward, Ondo State says: No more!
“They need our protection from all forms of harassment, exploitation and abuse. To build a bullying-free generation, we must act collectively and decisively. We must build a society free from oppression, injustice and inhumane treatment.
“We must build a generation of young people who are bold, resilient and confident. A generation that knows their rights and is not afraid to stand up for what is right, not just for themselves but for their peers as well. This is how we build a truly inclusive and safe society.
“All hands must therefore be on deck – parents, teachers, school administrators, religious bodies, traditional institutions, associations and government at all levels must play their part. And so must our children, who must be encouraged to speak up and support one another.
“We must instill empathy and kindness in our children. When we put ourselves in others’ shoes, we can build stronger relationships and more caring communities. Education is key to preventing bullying.
“We must raise awareness about its harmful effects and promote positive behaviour in all learning environments. We must also build robust support systems for victims: counseling, mentoring and safe spaces must be readily available. Moreover, we must empower bystanders to become upstanders – those who do not remain silent but act when they see something wrong.
“As a government, we remain unwavering in our commitment to child protection policies, school safety initiatives and programmes that promote mental and emotional health in our schools and communities.
“By the special grace of God, the government of Ondo State shall continue to prioritise the welfare of our children through our various initiatives, including payment of WAEC fees for secondary school students and the renovation of public schools across the State.
“We have also recruited over two thousand teachers for public secondary and primary schools to improve standard of education in the State.
“Let me congratulate all our children. Whether you are participating in the match past, the oratory competition, cultural performances or the inauguration of the Children’s Parliament, know that you are celebrated.
“I encourage all children here today and across our 18 Local Government Areas to be champions of kindness, to support one another and to never be silent in the face of bullying. Speak up for yourself. Speak up for others. You are not alone and your voice matters.”
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser(Women Affairs and Social Development) to the governor, Dr. Oluwaseun Osamaye, in her address, commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for his unwavering commitment to child development and for the release of funds for the execution of the Children’s Day programmes.
She said: “”National Children’s Day is a significant National event that affords us the opportunity of celebrating our children by networking and also advocating for
social welfare and rights in the society.
“It is a day set aside to recognize honour, celebrate and appreciate our children. It was established to promote international awareness, Unity, love among children worldwide and to improve their welfare.
“This year’s theme: stand up, speak up; building a bullying-free generation is apt and timely as it addresses critical issues in schools settings and calls on us all to take action against bullying among children and young adults, empowering our children to speak up through advocacy and confidence building.
“In order to promote a safer society in Ondo State, a one day workshop for strategic stakeholders was organized to deliberate on the theme in order to have a bullying free schools.
“it is indeed a new dawn in Ondo State and it is Lucky’s time, the commitment to the growth and development of our children is reflected in the Our Ease Agenda of inclusive governance of Mr. Governor as new innovations were introduced into the line up activities to mark this year’s event as opposed to previous years.
“Oratory Skills competition on the theme to listen to our children speak, Cultural parade display to reflect rich cultural heritage of each local Government, Match past to foster teamwork, unity and discipline and above all, the inauguration of the 3rd Ondo State Children Parliament which has been moribund for over a decade but was revived by your Excellency’s Government with the supports of the Save the Children international.
“It is designed to provide children with a structured, respected avenue to express their ideas and aspirations, advocates for their rights on issues pertaining to education, safety, health, justice and development. The vision is to ensure every Nigerian child has a voice that is heard, respected and empowered to contribute meaningfully to State and National development.”