Jubilation knew no bounds in Anuagata Development Centre on May 27 when the Coordinator of the Centre, Comrade Omoke John Osi, celebrated Children's Day with youngsters from the area.
The event was massively attended by the Anuagata Development Centre stakeholders and school children with their teachers, caregivers and parents witnessed the march-pass, football and cultural display competitions at Okposi Okwu Central School in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Speaking during the event, the Anuagata Development Centre Coordinator, Comrade Omoke John Osi appreciated the children and their guests who came to celebrate with them.
The Coordinator described the 27th of May as a day set aside for the celebration of children across the globe.
"It is also my first time standing and publicly addressing you in the capacity of a coordinator.
"Our journey is going to be a smooth one; it is going to be filled with projects upon projects, just like our father the Governor, Rt. (Hon) Builder Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru. We'll continue to support our children at the secondary and university levels with financial assistance.
"And to our Children in the nursery and primary school levels, I encourage you all to always be obedient to your parents and teachers. Respect your elders and fear God. And as life is transient and revolves, I assure you that we'll do our best to leave you a better society.
"Another beautiful message I want you to go home with is that formal education is very important, but also, while you have the opportunity, please try and learn a skill. If you do, you'll be proud you did shortly," Omoke stated.
Omoke further recalled that on assumption of office as a Coordinator, he paid school fees for indigent students for WAEC and tuition fees in the tertiary institutions.
The Coordinator disclosed that he has built culverts, opened local roads, dug boreholes in the area and assured of bringing more dividends of democracy to his people.
In his remarks, the former Coordinator of the Centre, H Aja Obini expressed joy that the state governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru approved the celebration of Children's Day at the grassroots area including the Development Centre level.
"I believe that the governor has started very well and I am very hopeful that if most of the litany of projects I am seeing here and there; if they are pursued to a conclusive end, he has done well.
"I am also confident that the DC Coordinator will deliver having been part of the system even as a younger person.
"Just like I told him, I had ample opportunity to lay a good foundation for the take-off and improvement of the development centre administration.
"And I believe, if he wants to write his name on gold, he should be able to improve on our performance; so I still believe that he can do well," Obini stated.
Other stakeholders, Onyiba Innocent Ugwu and Johnson Ogudu also applauded the governor for bringing back the Children's Day celebration down to a grassroots level to inculcate youth friendliness, harmony, unity and hard work.
Ugwu said, "I am happy that Children's Day has come back to life. I am happy that the governor has brought it back. I think the essence of that is to inculcate youth friendliness; and tell them the essence of harmony, unity, and hard work in society. The DC coordinator started well and I believe there will be more improvement."
"Today's children's day activities are very nice, they tried their best to coordinate their activities today. As it is now, our parents are trying to train their children, but they should put more effort to our educational system.
"The government should put more money into education. In South East, we are known for education and more efforts should be geared towards repositioning our educational system," Ogudu asserted.
Recall that the event which was attended by stakeholders from all walks of life featured matches by both primary and secondary school children, football competitions, cultural dances, and and awards of prizes, among others.
