The Kogi State Children’s Parliament has applauded Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for enforcing free education across all public primary and secondary schools in the state.
The commendation was made during the 2025 Kogi State Children’s Summit, themed “Building Today’s Children for Tomorrow’s Kogi: Empowerment, Protection and Growth” in Lokoja on Tuesday.
In his address, the convener of the Kogi State Children’s Parliament and Executive Director of the Centre for Ethics and Self Value Orientation (CESVO), Salih Musa, described the current session as the most exceptional children’s parliament he has witnessed over the years.
Overwhelmed by the performance of the young lawmakers, Salih recalled establishing the Children’s Parliament years before pioneering the Nigerian Youth Parliament, an initiative that remains a landmark in the nation’s legislative history.
He noted that among the 61 children’s parliaments he visited across Nigeria, the current Kogi State Children’s Parliament stands out remarkably for its coordination, discipline, and commitment.
On his part, the Speaker of the Kogi State Children’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Amobeda Wisdom, outlined the Parliament’s achievements in recent months which include several community-based and child-focused outreach programmes.
He further highlighted the Parliament’s representation of Kogi State at the National Children’s Leadership Conference in Abuja, where young delegates contributed to national discussions on Nigeria’s future.
The Speaker who was represented by the pro-tempore, Hon. Abdulsalami Muhammed expressed deep concern for children affected by insecurity nationwide particularly victims of the recent abductions in Niger State and the kidnapped school children in Kebbi State.
He commended the government and security agencies for securing the release of some abducted children and prayed for the safe return of others still in captivity.
“As we begin today’s summit, let us remember that building tomorrow’s Kogi starts with the decisions we make today,” he said, emphasising the need to empower children to learn, speak, thrive, and contribute meaningfully to society.
The Focal Person for Child Protection at the KOGI State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajarat Amin, encouraged pupils to participate in the state’s ongoing child-focused campaigns.
She noted that children as young as ten in other states are already taking part, urging Kogi children to seize the opportunities.
