Anambra’s Future Greatness is Assured in our Children—Obiano

The Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, has expressed optimism on the future greatness of the state on account of the tremendous promise shown by the children of the state.

Obiano who spoke at the ceremonies marking the celebration of this year’s edition of Children’s Day at the Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka expressed his happiness that the efforts of the APGA-led administration to mould Anambra children into future leaders were beginning to yield desired results.

Said he: “Our children have powerfully responded to our efforts to plant greatness in them. Indeed, it is gratifying to see that the Anambra child has set himself apart from his contemporaries across the country. He has shown a tremendous hunger for achievements that even the world can no longer ignore.”

The Governorlauded the state’s Debate Teams that won a bronze medal at the World Schools Debate Championship in Singapore last year and the one that would represent the country at this year’s World Championship that would hold in Germany in July.

“Our children have also continued to dominate in External Exams in the country. Anambra has produced the best results in WAEC and NECO exams in the past three years. In fact, because of our children’s excellent performance in these exams, the Registrar of NECO, Prof.AbdulrashidGarba visited me at the Governor’s Lodge last year to commend Anambra for recording 80% in 5 Credits including English Language and Mathematics in the year 2015 NECO exams. Biko, let’s put your hands together for umu-aka Anambra!” he further declared.

Speaking further, Governor Obiano therefore reasoned that the celebration of Children’s Day had given him the opportunity“to affirm our faith in the Nigerian child; to rededicate ourselves to the belief that the little acorns we nurture today will become the mighty oaks of tomorrow!So, I urge you all to join me in affirming our faith in the children of Anambra State, the children of Igboland and the children of Nigeria today!”

Quoting American poet, Carl Sandbarg’s comment that “A baby is God’s opinion that the world should go on,” Governor Obiano explained that his administration had affirmed that the world should go with the plans it had rolled out for the Anambra child.

“Our plans for the Anambra child starts from maternal healthcare, through basic education to secondary education and finally, tertiary education. Our “No-Child-Left-Behind” educational policy ensures that education is an entitlement of every Anambra child. Our Free-education policy for children living with disability ensures that education is not a privilege but a heritage of the Anambra child,” he further disclosed.

Urging Nigerians to show more interest in the education and upbringing of their children, Governor Obiano declared his total agreement with the saying of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy of the US that “children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see,” reasoning that “these children gathered here before us today may well be the greatest proof that we did our work well as parents and teachers and as a government.”

Earlier in her welcome address, the Commissioner for Social Welfare, Children and Women Affairs, Dr. Mrs. Victoria Chikwelu had explained that the Obiano administration had from inception treated issues affecting children with utmost care and importance.

The highlight of the event was a riveting calisthenics display by children drawn from different secondary schools across the state.