Children’s Day: Ooni Unveils New Initiatives, Says “Children Deserve Better”

The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has unveiled some initiatives targeted at children education, capacity building and empowerment.

This is as the foremost African monarch called on the government and other stakeholders towards creating a conducive atmosphere for the growth of children in Nigeria.

Ooni Ogunwusi who is co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, made the disclosure on Friday at his Ile Oodua Palace in Ile-Ife, during the annual Children’s Day celebration, organised by his NGO, Hopes Alive Initiatives (HAI).

Addressing the happy children, Ooni Ogunwusi 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.

Represented by her Personal Assistant, Comrade Chidi Amos, the Deputy Convener/CEO of Hopes Alive Initiative (HAI), Princess Temitope Adesegun had earlier in her opening speech thanked the Ooni for his love for the children which has helped the poor and other vulnerable members of the society. She expressed for the impressive turnout of the primary school pupils dressed in the sport wears of their respective schools and accompanied by their teachers and parents.