Building children is our key agenda - Governor

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River says his administration will continue to give priority to children’s welfare through provision of quality education and moral uprightness.

Ayade made the promise in Calabar on Friday during the 2016 Children’s Day held at the U.J. Esuene Sport Stadium.He said that the state had initiated a 'Finance the Children' programme to train children who excelled in their academic studies.

According to him, the state will not relent in sponsoring secondary and primary school students in local, state, national and international competitions.

"It is my belief that all of you standing here are the future leaders of tomorrow. Children are great leaders of tomorrow, as I greet you today, I see doctors, lawyers, engineers, senators, governors and others.

"What you shall become depends on what you plan today. We will create that enabling environment that will spur you to greatness.

"If you want to be a governor, senator, president, you must read your books; respect your parents and the ruling authority.

"I inspire you to have the fear of God as this is a sure way towards success,’’ he said.

The governor advised the children to look beyond their present age and have confidence in themselves. Earlier, the state Commissioner for Education, Mr Godwin Eta, said that the theme for the 2016 Children Day is 'Protecting the Right of the Child in the Face of Violence and Insecurity’.

Eta said that the state had already mapped out several programmes meant to uplift the educational standard of children in the state. He said the ministry would continue to partner with non-governmental organisations and corporate bodies in fashioning out modalities that would promote children education in the state.

"The education ministry would ensure that children education in the state is given utmost attention. Also, as a way of developing the all round knowledge of children, we will also pick sport as a special activities for the children,’’ he said.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that both private and public primary and secondary schools attended the Children’s Day celebration which featured a match past of all the schools.