Every 27th of May, Nigeria pauses to celebrate one of the greatest gifts God has given humanity — children. Beyond the colourful parades, cultural displays, and school festivities, Children’s Day remains a solemn reminder of society’s sacred responsibility to protect, nurture, educate, and empower the younger generation.
Children are not just the leaders of tomorrow as the cliché often suggests; they are the very foundation upon which the future is built today. The moral burden therefore lies on governments, institutions, families, and society at large to create an environment where every child can dream, grow, and thrive without fear, neglect, or deprivation.
In reflecting on this significant day, it becomes important to acknowledge leaders whose policies and actions demonstrated genuine concern for the welfare of children. One name that readily comes to mind in Cross River State is Ben Ayade.
Love him or disagree with him politically, one undeniable attribute of Senator Ben Ayade’s administration was his visible compassion for humanity — especially for vulnerable children and families at the grassroots. His government consistently projected a social welfare approach that aligned, in many respects, with the ideals and aspirations embodied in the Child Rights Act.
The Child Rights Act fundamentally seeks to guarantee the survival, development, protection, and participation of every Nigerian child. It opposes child abuse, exploitation, neglect, trafficking, and all forms of inhuman treatment capable of robbing children of dignity and opportunity. While implementation across states has often faced challenges, some policies pursued during Ayade’s administration reflected the spirit of the Act.
One of the most impactful interventions of the Ayade administration was the aggressive expansion and support of the education sector through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). Through school renovation projects, teachers’ support initiatives, and the promotion of learning infrastructure, many children ; especially those from rural communities gained improved access to education. Education remains one of the strongest instruments for protecting child rights because an educated child is less vulnerable to exploitation, criminality, and poverty.
The administration also demonstrated concern for child healthcare through investments in medical facilities and public health initiatives via primary healthcare. The construction and advancement of healthcare projects, alongside programmes aimed at improving maternal and child health, indirectly strengthened child survival and development indices within the state. A healthy child stands a better chance of fulfilling purpose and contributing meaningfully to society.
Another notable area was Ayade’s repeated advocacy for social inclusion and protection of the less privileged. His government’s humanitarian disposition towards indigent families, widows, and vulnerable persons created a support structure that benefited many children living under difficult socioeconomic conditions. When families are supported, children are protected.
It is also impossible to ignore the cultural and moral emphasis his administration placed on preserving societal values. Children flourish best in societies where discipline, identity, morality, and communal responsibility are intentionally nurtured. Through various youth and cultural engagements, the government attempted to sustain values capable of shaping responsible citizenship among young people.
Children’s Day should therefore not merely be a ceremonial event marked by speeches and fanfare. It should challenge leaders at all levels to revisit policies concerning education, healthcare, security, nutrition, and child protection. Millions of Nigerian children still battle poverty, abuse, child labour, trafficking, and lack of access to quality education. These realities demand urgent and deliberate action.
As we celebrate today, society must remember that every neglected child is a potential crisis tomorrow, while every protected child is a potential solution for the future.
Senator Ben Ayade’s years in office may continue to attract varying political interpretations, but history will also remember that his administration projected a humane disposition towards the vulnerable and consistently echoed the necessity of investing in people — especially children.
On this Children’s Day celebration, may government institutions, parents, religious bodies, and community leaders recommit themselves to the ideals of child protection, equal opportunity, sound education, and moral upbringing.
For in the end, the true wealth of any nation is not buried beneath its soil, but seated in its classrooms, playing in its streets, and dreaming in the hearts of its children.
Comr. Ogar Emmanuel Oko
Publisher of the Rabbit Punch
Writes from Ijegu Ojor Autonomous Community
