Tuesday July 22, 2025
By TheNewsDESK |
The Akwa Ibom State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the protection of children’s rights and the welfare of youths in the State.
The State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, gave the assurance on Tuesday, July 22, when he received in audience the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), at Government House, Uyo.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Senator (Dr) Akon Eyakenyi, Pastor Eno said his administration remains passionate about the well-being of children and youths, assuring that relevant legal frameworks are in place to secure the future of Akwa Ibom children.
Governor Eno emphasised that the State’s strategy for youth and child development goes beyond rhetoric and pointed to the success of youth empowerment initiatives such as the Dakkada Skill Acquisition Centre, where young people do not only receive vocational training, but are provided with starter kits.
“Our concern is to ensure that every Akwa Ibom child gets proper education and healthcare. And to ensure that the youths are not wrongly used, we have a special skill acquisition centre, where the youths are trained and at the end of the day, they are empowered with starter kits to enable them start their own enterprises and earn a living, instead of going round to beg.
“The Child Rights Law has been in existence since 2008. That Law protects the children, even those in the streets. No parent, caregiver or mistress, is allowed to maltreat a child. We have a department set up to monitor that.
“We also have the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law that was put in place in 2020, as well as the Widowhood Practices Law and there is a unit of in the Ministry of Justice that handles that”, he said.
Aside the construction and equipping of model primary schools across the State, the State Chief Executive further disclosed that the government also offers free and compulsory education, including uniforms, sandals, and books, to encourage qualitative education.
“Every Local Government Area is earmarked for a model school. We want children in the villages to have the same access to good education as their peers in the cities. Teachers are trained and more will be recruited very soon.
“Our administration has a heart and conscience to ensure the future generation has a proper foundation and is well protected,” he said.
Earlier the Team Lead and ACERWC Country Rapporteur, Hon. Robert Nanima, said the visit was aimed at fostering partnership with the state government to promote and protect children’s rights.
While acknowledging the warm reception and hospitality accorded his delegation, Nanima commended what he described as Governor Umo Eno’s exemplary leadership style, as evident in his investments in healthcare, education and infrastructure and other sectors.
Present during the visit were officials from the Federal Government and the Akwa Ibom State Government, including the Head of Service, Elder Effiong Essien, Executive Assistant/Delivery Advisor to the Governor, Mr. Aniefiok Johnson, Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, amongst others.
