Osinbajo at Children’s Day service, preaches hope
KILLER herdsmen, political violence, abductions, strikes, blackouts notwithstanding, Nigeria’s future is bright, insisted Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
He made the observation, yesterday, during the Children’s Day service held at the Aso Rock Chapel, Abuja.
According to Osinbajo, “All Nigerian children are special. And they are special because the future of our nation belongs to them and they have all that it takes to give our country a great future.”
He is “completely convinced” that the nation’s future is “extremely bright” because of the abundant talents he believes are inherent in the little ones.
The day to him, “is also a moment to reflect on the responsibility that we have as government, as adults, to ensure that we give to these children the very best that
we can, especially the children of those who cannot afford education, healthcare and all that.”
But reminded that the country’s children are beset by real challenges, he answered: “Yes, the truth of the matter is that there are always challenges everywhere and in every nation of the world. But I am convinced that we have the capacity to surmount all of the challenges. And the key feature for me, one of the key features of government and governance, is the human development index, education, healthcare and the welfare of our citizens.”
Osinbajo instanced one of the children-based initiatives of the current admin- istration, saying: “For the first time, we are doing a programme that none has ever done, so far. That is our social investment programme. The focus of that is on the human development index, homegrown school feeding. For the first time, we are feeding 8.2 million children every day in 24 states. And that is because we are concerned about the nutrition of the children. We are concerned about the fact that children, if they are not well fed, they become stunted, even mentally.”
He continued : “These are the kinds of things that we think ought to be done. And we are doing them, and we have to keep expanding, keep working, keep building, spending more and more.”
The Chaplain of Aso Villa Chapel, Pastor Seyi Malomo, said: “Certainly, I see a great hope for the children. And a day like this, as we celebrate the Nigerian child, it helps us to reassure the children that there is hope and a future for them, particularly under this administration. They should be assured that the future will be brighter and they will enjoy it.”
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, noted: “My message to the children is that they should have faith in Nigeria that the government of this country is preparing so much for them and their future. President Buhari and the vice president and the entire administration are working so hard to preserve the future of Nigerian children.”