Ex-PDP Guber candidate, Odii vows to remain committed in empowerment of Children in Ebonyi 

By Uchenna Okeh Abakaliki 

The former governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the last 2023 general election in Ebonyi state, Mr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii has vowed to remain committed towards the empowerment of Children in the state.

Odii made this known in a statement signed and issued to newsmen to mark the 2025 world children’s day that took place in the various Local government areas of the state and the country at large.

The statement reads in part: “On this auspicious World Children’s Day 2025, I speak to you not only as a leader, but as a father, a believer in the potential of every child, and a champion for the bright future of Ebonyi. 

“We join the world in lifting up the voices of children. We commemorate your dreams, your ideas, your questions, and your courage. This day is not just a celebration but a solemn reminder of our collective responsibility to nurture, protect, and empower our future leaders.

The Nations News Nigeria reports that the theme of this year’s world children day, “Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation” is not just a slogan. “It is a responsibility. In every corner of our schools, homes, playgrounds, worship  centres, and digital spaces, too many children still live in fear of judgment, exclusion, and harm, which must be addressed with united force and urgency. 

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“To every child who has ever been bullied, silenced, or made to feel small, you are not alone. Your pain is seen, your voice matters, and your future is brighter than any shadow cast upon you. I look forward to a new Ebonyi, where we shall all rise together to create a culture where kindness is strength, compassion is leadership, and every child feels safe and valued.

“The adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the United Nations on November 20, 1989, marked a pivotal moment in global child advocacy. This convention, which came into force on September 2, 1990, enshrines the rights of children to protection, education, and participation in decisions affecting their lives.

“Nigeria, through the Child Rights Act of 2003, has domesticated this vision. But laws alone are not enough. We must live with them. We must teach them. We must build institutions and communities that make children’s rights real every day, from schools to our home and worship centres.

“As I further, I wish to call on you again our beloved children to always dare to Dream Big. You are our future leaders, our hope, and the flame of the future. You are not too young to make a difference. The future belongs to you, and we are here to help you build it.

“To parents, educators, and leaders. Your role in a child’s  growth, education, and development is highly significant  and sacred. We must, therefore, always demonstrate our collective role as the first shield and the strongest voice for every child in our care. 

“In building a better society, we must keep up with this onerous task of making every child our child. Let us reject violence in all its forms; physical, emotional, or digital. Let us raise children who are confident, curious, and kind.

“I charge every relevant authority, and indeed, every community, to commit to raising children who are not afraid to stand and lead. We have to mark this day highly significant for a renewed commitment to end bullying in all its forms, to develop and implement child supportive and protective programmes and policies, to listen to children, not just on days like this, but every day and to invest in education, mental health, and sustainable opportunity for all” he stated.