Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has said the time has come for government to interface with children directly instead of merely talking about them.

Governor Akeredolu said often times, people talk about children being the future of tomorrow without taking into cognizance the need to involve the children in the conversation.

The Governor made this known during a visit to his office by the Children management committee of the Ondo State Radio Vision Corporation (OSRC) and Orange 94.5 FM on the occasion of the 2018 Universal Children's Day.

The Universal Children’s Day is celebrated around the world on November 20 and the observance was established in the year 1954 to 'promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare'.

November 20 is also the day when the UN General Assembly adopted the declaration of the 'Rights of the Child' in 1959.

To celebrate the day in Ondo State, the managment committee of the OSRC and Orange 94.5 FM vacated office for the children to run the affairs of the station.

The United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with OSRC and Orange 94.5 FM celebrated the day in the state with the theme " Children Take Over "

Governor Akeredolu said " You are no doubt the future of the nation and I hope you all know that.

"What you are doing today gives us the opportunity of what I have learnt from somewhere that I was particular about, we as adults always talk about you, we talk about you as the future of the country and the leader of tomorrow.

"But, there is one thing that's missing, most people have not been talking to you. That's why we must appreciate the management staff of OSRC for bringing you here so that we can talk to you.

"What this has accorded us is that, the time has come for us to talk to our children. That is talking to you and not talking about you. And that's what this government will be about as from today. "

Governor Akeredolu said his government is committed to making sure that the children have better learning facilities across the state.

Earlier , the one day management committee chiarman of OSRC and Orange 94.5 FM, Miss Nifemi Obalokun appreciated the Governor for his gaint stride in infrastructure development across the state.

She said " It might interest you to know, Sir that in spite of all around us at this time, particularly the political manouvering and bickering over power and manipulation of public perception, we, children of Ondo State see, hear and understand the silent reforms going on around us since February 2017.

"We know and are convinced for instance, that the Ondo State Government under your leadership, is avowed to ensure change and redefine the parameters of leadership in our land.

" Your administration, to the admiration of all of us, has shown through its policies, actions and utterances that the destination of all its existence is the safe and sound existence of a happy family, the centre of which is the child

"Your massive road and infrastructural interventions, construction of educational facilities, expansion and deepening of health programmes, outstanding worker or should I say parent friendly policy as well as the deliberate opening up of the Ondo State economy to production and job creation, prove your love and commitment to society's fertility, continuity, prosperity and preservation, all of which children represent. Mr. Governor, we are grateful."

She thanked the State government, UNICEF and the OSRC and Orange FM management committee for given the children such a great opportunity.

� Olawale Abolade
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