A’Ibom Govt Assures On Continued Implementation Of Child-friendly Policies, Progs

By Bassey Nkponam
UYO
The Akwa Ibom governor has assured on his administration’s continued implementation of policies and programmes that would protect Akwa Ibom children, as they celebrate the National Children’s Day. 
Pastor Umo Eno, who gave the assurance, Tuesday, during the 2025 National Children’s Day celebration with the theme, “Stand Up, Speak up: Building A Bullying-Free Generation,” at the Uyo Township stadium, said the resolve shall remain the commitment of government throughout the lifespan of his administration.
Eno said government has strengthened the Child’s Rights law in the State, and backed it with appropriate legislation and commensurate sanctions for defaulters. 
He noted that his administration does not condone child abuse or molestation of any sort, adding that the culprits were made to face the full wrath of the law.
Eno noted that the governance philosophy of his administration was anchored on the understanding that its time and resources must be invested to prepare a bright future for Akwa Ibom children, which was why his administration was holistically investing in their education through the ARISE Agenda. 
According to him, the strongest tool to give the children for the future was education and other skills, such as entrepreneurial and technological, to enable them compete favourably with their counterparts nationally and on the global stage.
He said, so far, his administration has built model primary schools across the State in just two years with modern facilities and went ahead to provide shoes, school uniforms and books to encourage them in their learning.
Eno made known that government would soon flag-off the construction of model secondary schools in the three senatorial districts equipped with world-class facilities, staff quarters and ICT centres.
The governor pointed out that as a state, the National Children’s Day celebration was beyond being a yearly ritual but a day to renew its efforts and commitment to the welfare of the children and building a better future for them. 
  Eno explained that the target of his administration was to ensure that public schools have the capacity to compete with private schools, and that Akwa Ibom children were not denied quality education because of the circumstances of their birth.
This, he said, has also necessitated government’s prioritisation of the welfare of teachers, ensuring that all their salaries and entitlements were received to enable him have reasons not to be fully committed to their work, even as retired teachers have been paid gratuities.
Eno described the theme of the celebration as apt, timely and a clarion call for all to play their various roles in the task of moulding a generation they shall all be proud of. 
He congratulated the children on their celebration and charged them to make their families and the State proud, while urging parents to ensure that their wards stay away from anti-social tendencies such as cultism.