The Kwara government has also pledged commitment to ensuring the survival of the Nigerian child.

The state’s Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Saka Onimago, made the pledge at the 2013 Children’s Day celebration held in Ilorin.

He said this was in line with the administration of the government’s transformation agenda to secure the lives of children.

“We intend to achieve full survival, protection and development of the children through concerted effort by all stakeholders.”

According to him, children are the greatest asset of the nation, “we must invest in the future of the children”.

Onimago reiterated the determination of government to protecting children’s rights through the Children Rights Act.

He noted that the government was carrying out advocacy for the education of the girl-child, to reduce infant and maternal mortality.

The commissioner advised children to utilise the Nigerian’s Children Parliament, institutionalised to express concern and opinion affecting their well being.

Also speaking, Mrs Comfort Afolayan, Commissioner for Women Affairs, said that government would continue to promote and protect the rights of children to basic health.

She charged the children to be law abiding and to always respect their parents.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that children from various schools, including the Police Children School and Oko Erin Primary School in Ilorin, participated in the match-past to commemorate the event.