Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has affirmed that the state’s investment in the education sector is yielding positive results.
Soludo stated this during the 2024 Children’s Day celebration in Awka, the state capital, on Monday, while reiterating his administration’s commitment to investing more in the state’s education sector.
According to the governor, Anambra remained the state with the lowest record of out-of-school children in Nigeria, attributing it to the huge investment of his government in education.
He also commended the teachers for their commitment to training the children, while assuring them that his administration would not lower the bar in the recruitment of teachers.
He said, “We are here to celebrate our future. Our future and others who were not able to join us here. This is the third time I am witnessing Children’s Day since I assumed office but this is the largest I have seen so far.
“I can see the glorious future of Anambra and Nigeria as we behold their face. We are deliberately investing in our children who are our bridge for skills needed here and exporting them.
“In two years, we have employed over 8,000 teachers because the children are our greatest asset. Currently, Anambra has the lowest out-of-school children in the country. We are targeting making it zero, Anambra children deserve the best.”
Soludo added, “We are having sleepless nights because of you. Roads will wash away, sky-scrapers will collapse, but investment in children will stand the test of time.”
The governor called on the people to invest in education because it is everyone’s responsibility, adding that “if you can save the cost of your favourite brand of drink, you can buy a pencil for the child. That is a way of investing in education.”
The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, urged parents to offer their children the needed parent-child relationship and make their homes more conducive for them to thrive amidst challenges.
Obinabo noted that the governor’s manifesto showed that enhancing the well-being of the Nigerian child through quality education and skills development is possible and achievable to “build a livable and prosperous homeland.”
The event witnessed march pasts by school children in uniformed outfits, cutting of the cake, cultural dance, and fashion parade, among other activities.
