The Fifth Assembly of the Cross River State Children’s parliament has finally been inaugurated seven years after the end of the fourth one.
The inauguration, performed by Mrs. Asi Archibong, the Director Child Education in the Ministry of Women Affairs, was preceded by the taking of Oath at a 4-Day event organized and sponsored by Save the Children International held in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.
More than 50 children drawn from different secondary schools across 14 out of the 18 local government areas of Cross River State participated in the keenly contested election, which also featured presentation of manifesto by the contestants.
At the end of the election, 15 years old Master Melvin Proere of Saint Patrick’s Technical College, Ugep in Yakurr local government area emerged as Speaker of the Cross River State 5th Children’s Parliament, while Master Osika Etim from Government Secondary School, Itighidi, Abi local government area was elected the Deputy Speaker.
Other elected members are Divine Somtobechukwu, House Leader from Akpabuyo; Egor Elias also from Akpabuyo Deputy House Leader, Gabriel Elijah (Akpabuyo) Chief Whip and Kanu Egwu (Biase) Deputy Chief Whip amongst others.
Decision making
In a brief remark, the Communication Engagement and Advocacy Officer, Ogoja field office, Mr. Effiong Akpan said that the children’s parliament was a platform for children to express themselves and participate in decision making.
Akpan noted that Save the Children International decided to assist the Cross River State government through the Ministry of Women Affairs reconstitute the moribund parliament as part of efforts to prepare them for future national assignments.
“To ensure that children’s input is taken into consideration, we needed to create a platform where they will be able to showcase their talents and all those qualities in them.
“So in collaboration with the Cross River State Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs, we decided to reconstitute the children’s parliament that has been moribund for a very long time. That is why we have brought children from the 18 local government areas to choose leaders amongst themselves indirectly preparing them for the national assignment.
“At this level, they can choose their leaders and not be influenced by money, ethnicity or religion. When we begin to sow this in their minds, they will grow up with that attitude and then we will have a paradigm shift in the way we do politics in Nigeria,” he stated. Pictures below:
Good ambassadors
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to Governor Ben Ayade on Women Affairs, Dr. Gertrude Njar expressed gratitude to the foundation for the support given to the government and ministry.
Njar described the children’s parliament as “a platform through which children influence and share control and responsibility over decisions, plans and resources, which affect them and this can be achieved when they have regular interactions.
“Since the expiration of the 4th parliament, the ministry had not been able to conduct election, which has been a serious lacuna in the system. I must sincerely thank Save the Children International for deeming it fit to support the reactivation of our state’s Children’s Parliament,” she said.
She urged the children to exhibit good conduct and serve as true ambassadors for others especially on matters affecting them.
The participants were engaged in different group activities designed to enable them understand issues surrounding gender equality, Child’s Right Act, the Nigerian Constitution and parliamentary proceedings.
