2018 celebration of the Day of the African Child

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Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with the office of the Wife of the Governor of Edo State and Hallmark Initiative hosted Edo Children on Saturday June 16, 2018 to an educative and engaging program marking the date in Edo State.

The theme for this year's celebration: _*"Leave no Child Behind for Africa's Development"*_

Speaking at the event, Her Excellency, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki ably represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Magdalene Ohenhen said that the importance of the day shouldn't be lost in the euphoria of celebration rather, it should serve as a reminder of the importance of education as the medium of knowledge and enlightenment particularly in a world that is today fixated on the accumulation of wealth at any cost".

She said while the realities of economic hardship in the world today may well justify the drive for wealth, history has shown that an uneducated population is one which is prone to slavery and oppression from exploiters.

According to her: "In the light of this and in line with the theme of this year's Day of the African Child _*"Leave no Child Behind"*_ the Godwin Obaseki government is giving education it's pride of place by reforming the structure of Basic Education and revamping the technical schools in the State so that the students do not just leave school educated alone but also able to be self employed if they so chose.

"This mindset also informed some of my initiatives such as the 'Betsy's Angels Shelter and the Betsy Obaseki After School Club both of which were launched this year. The launch of the Children version of the Child Rights Law and the initiation of my partnership with the school of the Blind and the People Living with Disability are some of my other children centered initiatives.

"This has also informed my adoption of the members of the Edo State Children's Parliament and Hallmark Initiative, young people who are devoted to the welfare of other young ones like them and are part of this event today."

She appealed to students to make the most of the opportunities available for education and enlightenment using the technologies at their disposal so that they can stand like those Soweto students against oppression whether it comes in the form of poverty, discrimination, drug abuse, bullying or human trafficking.

The Assemblies of the heads of Government of the Organisation for African Unity OAU set aside this day in 1991 to commemorate the massacre of over 700 African Children who in June 16, 1976 took to streets to protest against the oppressive rule of the apartheid regime in South Africa. The apartheid government at the time had introduced the Afrikaans language as the means of instruction in schools in addition to the English language but exempted the white students who in this new law were allowed to learn in any language of their choice. As a result of this and due to the enlightenment of these students, about 20,000 of them walked from their schools to Orlando Stadium in Soweto for a rally to protest the new law which led to the massacre of several of them by the South African Police.

"Education is an army that liberates the mind thus, I encourage you all to embrace education so that you will be well equipped to handle the challenges of life with confidence and good success, Mrs Obaseki averred".

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