WRITTEN BY EJIKE ABANA

Governor Willie Obiano has inaugurated the Seventh Anambra State Children’s Parliament.

Performing the ceremony while decorating the incoming speaker of the parliament, Miss Faustina Mary Okoye at the State Ministry of Social Welfare, Children and Women’s Affairs, Governor Obiano stressed the strategic importance of children to his administration.

 

The Parliament approach which allows for more natural and honest reactions and feedback from children, aims to increase children and adults’ knowledge and understanding of children’s human rights with the aim of ascertaining that the confident voices of children and the good listening skills of adults help to keep children healthy, happy and safe.

 

According to the Governor who spoke through his Deputy, Dr Nkem Okeke, the wealth of experience and creative techniques Children’s Parliament offers allows the child’s voice to develop, thereby gaining a clearer understanding of children’s ideas and thoughts which is beneficial for life at home, at school and in the wider world.

 

He said that grooming children from the early stage of life will make the job of parents and the society at large easier, and possibly stand out the children in their chosen career.

 

While congratulating the speaker and members of the parliament, Governor Obiano called for participation in the election process by more schools, and advised the parliamentarians to face their studies squarely.

 

The Commissioner for Social Welfare, Children and Women’s Affairs, Mrs Ndidi Mezue who emphasized that elections were held in schools at different local government areas of the State, out of which successful candidates emerged, described children as the future leaders.

 

The Commisioner further noted that the platform affords them the ample opportunity to sit together and deliberate on their affairs.

 

Speaking, the ComProfessor Kate Omenugha who is the Commissioner for Basic Education, took pride in the disposition of the present government, through the various relevant Ministries at grooming children, pointing out that it is good for them to begin to learn democratic process, policy making, among other leadership traits as it will pave way for them to improve themselves for the future.

 

In her inaugural speech, the new Speaker of the Children’s Parliament, Miss Faustina Mary Okoye who emerged from Handmaids Girls Secondary School Amansea, called on the Governor to prevail on the State House of Assembly to re-enact the child’s right law, as well as totally abolish the Osu Caste system, among other issues, and applauded the State government for their genuine interest in children.

 

Children’s Parliament builds relationships that allow children the opportunity to voice their ideas, thoughts and feelings; so that their concerns and opinions can be listened to and included in social and political landscape, through directly working with children through projects and consultations as well as educating and equipping adults with knowledge and skills in order to replicate Children’s Parliament’s approach in their own locations.

 

Highpoints of the event were decoration of the new speaker by the Governor, mock session of the parliament as well as recitation of the State shared values by the children.

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