Emmanuel Thomas
May 27, 2015 – Lagos State Governor Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola has called on students in Nigeria to stay away from drug abuse, violence and other vices if they wish to see the Nigeria of their dream.
Fashola who was speaking at an occasion to mark the 2015 Children Day which also coincided with the day that Lagos was created in 1967 explained that the students must in addition shun temptation to join bag gangs if they wish to be alive to see the Nigeria that will lead the world, a Nigeria where things work.
He called on the students to rather join social clubs like Boys Brigade, Girls Guide, Boys Scout and the rest that would mould them into responsible individuals.
“I urged you to stay away from all vices that can destroy your future. I want you to stay away from drug abuse, ignore bad friends who might want to introduce you to cultism, stay away from violence and bad gangs but rather you can join social and voluntary clubs such as Boys Brigade, Girls Guide and Sheriff Guard among others that have been created for you to mould your future,” he said.
Fashola challenged the students who dawn the Police College pitch in various colours to work hard, stressing that hard work remains the only road to success in life.
Fashola charged the children not to forget all the things that they have learnt through programmes initiated by his administration such as the road safety rules and signs, traffic rules, the climate change rule to protect their environment, hand washing techniques which helped the state to combat the Ebola Virus during its outbreak .
He added that the children should continue with the good habits in order to make Lagos State a better place for all and stand by the incoming governor of the state so that he can also give good governance to the state as well as provide qualitative education to them.
Fashola listed some of the achievements of his government to include provision of notable infrastructure such as Child and Maternal Centers for the safe delivery of mother and child, good primary and secondary schools to enhance qualitative education delivery and the provision of solar power system in 172 schools in order to power electricity in those schools among others.
Earlier, Miss Diugwu Chinaza, a student of Agidingbi Senior High School appealed to the State Government to use the occasion to draw awareness to the plights of children around the world that have succumbed to violence in the forms of abuse, exploitation and discrimination among others.
According to her, since the proclamation by the World Conference for the well-being of children in 1925, Children’s Day has since been celebrated annually in order to celebrate and display affection and concern for children.
“I wish to say that the new government can demonstrate its affection and concern for us if only our colleagues from Chibok that are still missing are brought back home to the comfort and safety of their parents alive, ” she said.
