ANAMBRA STATE CELEBRATES CHILDREN’S DAY IN SOBER AS GOV. OBIANO CHARGES GEN. BUHARI TO RESCUE CHIBOK GIRLS

As children resident in Anambra State joined their counterparts worldwide in celebrating the 2015 World Children’s Day, which its theme as: Violence Against Children: Addressing the Challenges, the State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano urged the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to intensify efforts towards rescuing the abducted Chibok girls.

Gov. Obiano, who gave the charge while delivering President Goodluck Jonathan’s speech at the 2015 Children’s Day celebration in Awka, assured that the state government would continue to protect the right of every child, while saluting the children, he reassured the children that the state government would do anything possible to promote and protect their welfare.

“Anambra State in collaboration with Federal Government will not relent in promoting and protecting the rights of children, as a lot of modalities has been put in place to ensure its achievement”, he said.

Earlier speaking, the Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Victoria Chikelu reassured the commitment of her ministry to eradicate violence against children, stressing that Obiano’s administration has commenced construction of special centers at Ufuma Orumba South Local Government Area, where perpetrators of child abuse and sexual abuse, among other various dehumanization would face the wrath of law.

Dr. Chikelu, while urging proprietors, sellers and patrons of baby factories to desist from such act, however, added that the state government is setting-up what she described as a Corrective Institution for children at conflict with the law so as to prevent them from being exposed to violence in detention centers with adults.

According to the Commissioner, the facilities to accommodate the teens who committed crimes will be located along the Ukpo/Abagana section of the Onitsha/Enugu Expressway.

Chikelu also disclosed that in the past one year, the incumbent administration has established two new rehabilitation centers at Oba, Aguleri, and at present, work assiduously to complete the third one at Nawfija; secured home for abandoned children, gave out bounties to triplets, renovated Model Community Home at Awka, partnered with the State First Lady, Chief Ebele Obiano’s Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFE) pet project with a view to helping in procuring all their needs.

She therefore enjoined the citizenry to join hands with the government in inculcating moral virtues into the children as a way of transforming the mindset of Anambrarians to achieving violence-free State.

On his part, the newly sworn-in Speaker of Anambra State Children Parliament, Rt. Hon. Edden Abarah called on the government at all level to expedite action towards passage and enforcement of the bills concerning children.