Osun First Lady Hosts Children Party With Fanfare, Charges Kids To Be Of Good Behavior

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

The Wife of Osun state Governor, Mrs. Kafayat Oyetola has charged the children of the state to imbibe good manners and make their education a priority.

This, according to the first lady would make them to become instruments of change and development in the society.

She gave the charge during the 2020 End of the year Children’s Party organised by her office in conjunction with the ministry of Women, Children and Social Affairs.

Mrs Oyetola who urged the children to shun every form of vices said the future of the State and the nation rests on the shoulders of today’s children, hence the need to strengthen the foundations of character and education.

Mrs Oyetola said: To the children, I urge all of you to be of good behavior. Shun every form of vices and behaviour that is criminal. I urge you to concentrate on your learning, be it online or in-person.

She however enjoined parents and guardians to observe COVID-19 safety protocols and be conscious of children’s activities during the festive period.

“With resurgence of cases of coronavirus across the country, Mrs. Oyetola warned that the people cannot afford to be relax with safety protocols. Hosting our children at this gathering has been a tradition for years. Prior to now, this ceremony had always been hosted without fear and anxiety.

“However the kind of challenge that marked this year since late 2019 has called for much caution and restructuring of every form of gathering. We thought we had finally gone the corner with it but information reaching us indicate that there is a resurgence of cases across the country”, she said.

Apart from the safety protocols, Mrs. Oyetola averred that the challenge of the moment demands that that people show more love to one another.

She said “This is the season of love. The COVID-19 pandemic has also further underscored this. Therefore, let the tempo of of love for one another be increased at this period.

“I thank our mothers for the extra-ordinary job you have been doing in ensuring the safety and welfare of the children. The job has been made more hectic with the lockdown that attended the first wave of the pandemic. The challenges may be very daunting but they certainly underscore the great role of parenting”.

“I thank Mr. Governor for your support on programs and policies that will enhance better life for the children. I thank the organizers of this program. I thank you all.”

Commissioner for Women, Children and Social Affairs, Bukola Olabopo said, the State government has to zero tolerance for violence and is committed to ensure gender based violence, rape and other social vices are eradicated in the state.

Olabopo said the government prioritise welfare, health, education, security, and development of children by including them in all developmental agenda.

“This event was introduced some years back and it aims at fostering a sense of belonging and civic responsibility in our children, it has over the years become a source of inspiration for our children.

“The occasion also creates an avenue for children to interact with leaders in governance to enable them have focus and determine to become better than us in the future”, she said.

Some of the children expressed gratitude to the wife of the governor for organizing the event which they said has positive impacts on their psyche and social development.

Children with special needs were not left out in the celebration where they also displayed talents they are endowed with.