I would like to on behalf of the people of Abia State congratulate our children on this year’s celebration of the International Children’s Day, May 27, 2023.

It is worthy of note to state that the theme for this year’s Children’s Day celebration is ‘Investing in our future means investing in our children’.

As insightful and instructional as this statement is, can we, in all honesty, in Nigeria, indeed Abia State, really say we have invested in our future, that is, our children? The answer is simply, no!

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) puts the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria at over 20 million. Out of this number Abia State has no fewer than 90,000 children not attending schools.

This year’s celebration is, therefore, coming at a most auspicious time, when a new government will be taking over at the helms of political leadership in our state on May 29, 2023, just two days from today.

The Labour Party (LP) government in Abia State that I will lead has already made a firm promise to create the enabling environment and atmosphere for the socio- economic development, growth and welfare of our citizens.

This will entail the building of new infrastructure and revamping of existing ones; creating wealth and jobs for our agile army of youths, and opportunities for businesses to thrive and prosper; defraying outstanding wages and pensions and regular payments of same going forward.

All these and much more we will do all in the effort to secure a future for our children, who, as we often say, are leaders of tomorrow.

So, as we mark this year’s Children’s Day, I urge all our young ones to be of good cheer and at your best behaviour as we work to build a future for all and particularly, you, our children.

Happy Children’s Day, Ndi Abia.

SIGNED
Dr. Alex Otti, OFR
Governor-Elect of Abia State
May 27, 2023