Yusuf Oketola
THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has unveiled some initiatives targeted at children education, capacity building and empowerment.
This is just as the foremost African monarch called on the government at all levels and other stakeholders to create conducive atmosphere for the growth of children in Nigeria.
Oba Ogunwusi, in a press statement by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Otunba Moses Olafare, on Wednesday, stated that it is every individual’s greatest obligation to invest in young children and build significant resources for them, saying that remains the surest legacies anyone can leave behind.
He noted that through some of his initiatives, he is promoting child education, fostering healthy living through regular healthcare provisions, providing expanding feeding schemes through primary schools, and relocating street kids to safer designated centres through different welfare packages.
Ooni who is co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, made the disclosure recently at his Ile Oodua Palace in Ile-Ife, during the annual Children’s Day celebration, organised by his NGO, Hopes Alive Initiatives (HAI), according to Olafare
Quoting Olafare, Ooni said: “Through some of my initiatives, I’m promoting child education, fostering healthy living through regular healthcare provisions, providing expanding feeding schemes through primary schools, and relocating street kids to safer designated centres through different welfare packages.
“It’s our greatest obligations to invest in young children and build significant resources for them as that remain the surest legacies we can leave behind.
“The security of the future starts with the seeds sown today. We, as a nation, need to begin sowing the right seeds and cultivating them towards the betterment of humanity.
“Our greatest resource capital is our children, as they stand to continue the several legacies we leave behind. We must begin to build and sustain the right foundations for our beloved children and our nation. They are the bedrock of our existence”
School children across the city of Ife took part in several competitions including a debate with the topic, ‘Yoruba Traditional culture is better than Western culture”, after which several gift items including cash prizes were given to the participants.
