By Bon Peters, Port Harcourt.
Hajia Amina Babandede, chapter Chairperson, Customs Officers Wives Association(COWA), Onne, Area II Command, Rivers State says the association has remained committed to enhancing children’s creativity and innovative potentials.
Babandede disclosed this during the 2025 Children’s Day Celebration at the command’s staff quarters in Ebubu in Eleme, LGA Rivers state.
She noted that this year’s children’s day celebration with the theme- “Stand up, Speak up, building a bullying-free generation” was a renewed responsibility for caregivers and school operators to enhance children’s rights and protection.
According to her, every child is a gift of hope and as such should be duly protected and armed with requisite education and skills for the task of leadership.
On the scorecard of the COWA National president, Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi since assumption of office, Babandede said ”I want to commend our national President, Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi who had since assumption of office prioritized members welfare as well as that of our children.”
”She indeed does it best when it comes to capacity building for our children and the welfare of officers’ wives.”
Continuing, she asserted; “Onne command had since emulated these qualities, demonstrating compliance through our various welfare programmes.”
”On that note, I advise our children to continue to demonstrate self- confidence, standing tall in whatever they do because they are our future leaders.”
“I am bold to say that I see great leadership potential today in most of the children who participated in the various programs and attest to a bright future for the Nigerian child who is no longer prone to bullying,”she said.
Earlier, Miss Zukora Edeh, an eight year old participant in her welcome address commended COWA for the programme which featured various competitive games and shows such as Bouncing Castle, Micky Mouse, Spiderman among others which were handy to spice up the day.
Miss Edeh, cautioned and also prescribed parental control to help check activities of children especially as it concerns television and the internet.
Also, Miss Ochi Success, a participant on behalf of the children said that they are poised to imbibing positive characteristics that parents would be proud of while also promising to remain resilient to their academics.
Her words.. “Dear parents, be careful of what your child does on the internet, what we see on television and the books we read, teach us to know the difference between right and wrong to enable us to make positive decisions wherever we find ourselves.”
” Treat us equally, not showing preference for any, teach us to forgive and correct us with love when we go wrong,”she said.
Contributing, the Customs Barracks chairman and DC Enforcement Onne Customs Area II Command, Deputy Comptroller John Ejeh praised the children for their outstanding performance. He noted that parents should ensure that their children were taken care of both educationally and otherwise even as he added “some of the children you’re seeing today are presidents, governors, senators and house of Representatives members” while others, according to him, “are first ladies.”
He prayed for God’s guidance and protection while praying that they would be greater than their parents.
The highpoint of the occasion was the cutting of the Children’s Day cake.
Present at the occasion include superintendent of Customs, SC. Mrs Latecia Ikegwuonu, COWA liaison officer, Mrs Vivian Umuzuruike Onne COWA leader among others
