The future of our nation belongs to our children because Nigerian children are special and they have all that it takes to give the country a great future, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this today during the Children’s Day service at the Aso Villa Chapel, Abuja, where children gave various stirring performance in dance, music and drama. The service also featured a wonderful performance by children from the FCT School for the Blind, Jabi, Abuja.

The Vice President, who spoke to journalists at the end of the Sunday service, added that Nigerian children are “very bright, energetic, and they are very innovative.”

He said, “First I’d like to say all of our children, Nigerian children, are special. They are special because the future of our nation belongs to them and they have all that it takes to give our country a great future. They are very bright; they are very energetic, they are very innovative, and they are very creative. Just listening to them, watching the drama, listening to the music; you can tell that there is so much innovation and energy. And I am completely convinced that our nation’s future is truly bright because of all of the children that God has given us; the talents and creativity that he has given us.

“It is also a moment to reflect on the responsibility that we have, as government, as adults, to ensure that we give these children the very best that we can, especially the children of those who cannot afford education and healthcare. That’s why the commitment of our government is to that bottom of the pyramid. Our focus is on trying to get the best for them and we’re going to do even more of that.”

Prof. Osinbajo further noted that in spite of the country’s challenges, the Buhari administration would continue to do what is necessary to provide a bright future for Nigeria’s children.

“The truth of the matter is that there are always challenges everywhere in every nation of the world. But I’m completely convinced that we have the capacity to surmount all of the challenges. And one of the key features of government and governance is the human development index; education, healthcare, and the welfare of our citizens.”

“For the first time we are doing a programme that none has ever done before, that is our Social Investment Programme; the focus, of course, of that is the human development index. With the home grown school feeding programme, for the first time, we are feeding 8.2 million children every day in 24 states. And that’s because we are concerned about the nutrition of the children, we are concerned about the fact that children that are not well fed become stunted, even mentally. So these are the kinds of things that we think ought to be done and we are doing, and we have to keep expanding, keep working, keep building and spending even more for them,” he said.