President Buhari Expresses Commitment to Provide Nigerian Children Good Education, Healthcare & More

As the nation marks Children’s day today, President Muhammadu Buhari appeals to children and youths to imbibe discipline, hard work, and patriotism.

According to ThisDay, the president in his message to celebrate 2016’s Children Day, said the world looked to Nigeria as an exemplary model of democratic ideals after the smooth transition that brought his administration to power.

Buhari said: ”You, our children and youths have a very significant role to play in ensuring that our democratic institutions of governance are continuously nurtured, improved and strengthened to underpin national development and prosperity.”

The president added that during his tenure, the Federal Government would continue to do its best to prepare and equip the children and youths to show the world that with its brilliant, resourceful and resilient people, Nigeria is a country of incredible potential and opportunity.

He said: ”I seize the opportunity of this year’s celebration, which comes just two days before the first anniversary of the present administration, to reassure our children and youth that we remain fully committed to fulfilling our promise of a better Nigeria for all of our people.

”On this happy occasion for our children, I reaffirm my belief that it is the right of every Nigerian child to have access to quality and affordable education, as well as healthcare and other basic necessities for a good life, in a peaceful and secure environment.

”The good health and well-being of Nigerian children remain a top priority on our agenda for national development and we have demonstrated our strong commitment in this regard with the allocation of N12.6 billion in the 2016 budget for vaccines and programmes to prevent childhood killer diseases such as polio, measles, and yellow fever.

He also reassured the Nigerian children that ”other measures in the 2016 budget, such as the school feeding programme for children at a cost of N93.1 billion, to ensure that more children go to school and enjoy the fun of learning and growing together with their peers.

”Despite the current economic and funding challenges facing our dear nation, my administration will continue to do all within its powers to achieve better living conditions and greater access to quality healthcare and education for all our youth.”

The United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF) has called on the Federal Government  to take actions and renew efforts towards ending all forms of violence against children.