RAISING A RESILIENT GENERATION: ONDO TG, ECHOES OF MERCY CEO, OTHERS LEAD POWERFUL CHARGE AGAINST BULLYING
By Elizabeth Oluwaseyi Jim
Subheadings
📍Education, Family, and Policy Reform Take Center Stage
📍Stakeholders Unite to Empower the Next Generation
📍2025 Children’s Day Focuses on Safe Spaces, Strong Voices
Children’s Day in Ondo State was more than a celebration this year—it was a call to action.
With the 2025 theme, “Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation,” the state joined the rest of Nigeria in reaffirming a critical message: every child deserves a voice, protection, and the courage to speak out against bullying in all its forms.
Described as “the heartbeat of every society” and “a gift from God, full of promise and potential,” children took the spotlight in a day filled with advocacy, empowerment, and renewed commitment from key stakeholders across Ondo State.
A LEGAL AND MORAL OBLIGATION
According to Nigeria’s Child Rights Act, 2003, a child, defined as anyone under 18, is entitled to basic rights including education, healthcare, identity, dignity, and protection. Yet, bullying continues to erode these rights, often in silence.
Determined to turn the tide, the Ondo State Government is implementing deliberate strategies to combat bullying, as disclosed by Dr. Seun Osamaye, Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affairs.
“The activities put together to mark Children’s Day were not just designed for celebration, but to sensitize and empower children on how they could amplify their voices against bullying,” Dr. Osamaye stated.
She also announced a landmark development: the revival of the Children’s Parliament after twelve years, restoring a crucial platform for young voices to be heard and respected in policy discourse.
EDUCATION BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Highlighting the transformative power of education, Mrs. Adedamilola Owoka, Tutor-General of Ondo Central, emphasized that real learning extends beyond school walls.
“Education is not limited to the four walls of the classroom. Knowledge is power and this can be gotten through education, which begins from the cradle at the child’s home and down to the society,” she noted.
Mrs Owoka further explained that education not only imparts knowledge but also builds self-worth, awareness, and courage—essential tools that help children recognize their rights and stand against injustice and abuse.
THE POWER OF LOVE AND COMMUNITY
The conversation on child safety and growth extended to the home front, with Mrs. Ola-Jesu Zubair, founder of Echoes of Mercy Olive Homes Orphanage, stressing the importance of love and stability in nurturing children.
“If a home is sincerely a home, and a child is given love from the beginning, such a child would have confidence in him/herself,” she affirmed.
Mrs Zubair expressed concern over broken homes, which she described as a root cause of societal decline. She urged fellow caregivers and orphanage administrators to collaborate and uplift children under their care, insisting that no child is beyond hope.
“There is no child that is useless. Every child has the spirit of excellence in them. Once that child gets good orientation, they will turn out good,” she added.
PARENTING WITH PURPOSE
Mrs. Sunday Abiodun, a mother and child coach, offered parents practical guidance on how to build confidence and resilience in their children.
She encouraged parents to understand their children’s unique traits and passions while adopting constructive correction methods. “Children learn by what they see,” she said. “Parents should model confidence and calmness, especially in handling life challenges.”
Her message was echoed in the voices of children themselves, some of whom bravely spoke about the emotional impact of bullying—from sadness and loneliness to diminished self-worth. They urged peers to seek advice from elders and never suffer in silence.
TOWARD A BULLYING-FREE FUTURE
As Nigeria marked another Children’s Day, stakeholders in Ondo State reaffirmed a shared commitment: to build a society where every child is loved, protected, and empowered to stand up, speak up, and shine.
