As children in Niger State join their contemporaries all over the world to celebrate this year’s International Children’s Day, they are calling on the Nigerian government to as a matter of urgency prioritise introducing them to skills acquisition right from primary school stages.
Some of the children who spoke at an event organised for them in Minna, the Niger State capital said it will not only make children self-reliant, but also make them contribute their quota to the development of the society, especially with the scarcity of white-collar jobs.
The children adorned in their school uniforms performed match pasts to the admiration of the wife of Niger State Governor, Fatima Bago at the premises of Justice Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, the venue of the celebration.
The children used the medium to pour out their minds, calling on the government to as a matter of urgency begin to expose them to skills acquisition which will assist not only them, but also their contemporaries in the remote villages to be self-reliant.
The Niger State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hadiza Muhammad expressed the commitment of the present administration towards improving the practical skills and knowledge of children.
According to her, in the spirit of catching them young and engendering innovation as well as creativity, the State Government would roll out skills acquisition and self-empowerment programmes for children in schools by setting a day in the week academic curriculum, as skills acquisition day.
The wife of the Governor and special guest at the event, Fatima Bago advocated a review of the responsibilities of parents and teachers towards the educational and attitudinal development of children.
According to her, parents are under the obligation to nurture their children’s intellectual capacities while teachers, on the other hand, are expected to inspire and guide their pupils towards realising those capabilities.
The theme of this year’s Children’s Day, which is, “Empowering Our Future Leaders Through Skills Acquisition,” is a clarion call for corresponding actions as it underscores the importance of equipping children with the necessary skills to thrive in the digital world.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
