Abakaliki, Ebonyi State –May 27, 2025 –
As the world commemorates World Children’s Day 2025, the standard bearer of the People’s Democratic Party in Ebonyi State, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, FHL, has issued a powerful call to action urging stakeholders across Ebonyi State to unite in ending bullying, upholding child rights, strengthening community responsibility, and empowering young people to lead.
In a message titled “A Brighter Future Begins Today”, the 2023 PDP gubernatorial candidate described the day as “not merely a celebration, but a solemn reminder of our shared duty to protect and uplift the next generation.”
Speaking directly to children and youth, Dr. Odii reinforced the theme of this year’s celebration —“Stand Up, Speak Up: Building a Bullying-Free Generation” —describing it as a mandate to build safe spaces in every school, home, playground, and online platform.
“To every child who has ever been bullied, silenced, or made to feel small—you are not alone,” he declared.
“Your voice matters, your pain is seen, and your future is brighter than any shadow cast upon you.”
Dr. Odii also reflected on the broader global movement for children’s rights, referencing the 1989 adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Nigeria’s 2003 Child Rights Act.
While praising these legal frameworks, he emphasized the need for grassroots action.“Laws are not enough,” he warned.
“We must live them, teach them, and build institutions that make children’s rights real in everyday life.
”Another major theme of his message was the role of adults and communities in shaping children’s lives.
Addressing parents, teachers, and leaders, he described their responsibilities as sacred. “We must reject all forms of violence—physical, emotional, and digital—and raise children who are confident, curious, and kind,” he said.
Underscoring his message of youth empowerment, Dr. Odii called on children to dare to dream and to believe in their ability to drive change:
“You are not too young to make a difference. The future belongs to you.”He concluded with a passionate call for sustained investment in child welfare, education, and mental health, urging government bodies and communities to treat every child as a priority—not just on special occasions, but every day.
“To every child in Ebonyi and beyond—know that you are seen, you are loved, and you are powerful,” he said.
World Children’s Day celebration, marked annually in Nigeria on the 27th of May, serves as a veritable platform to highlight children’s rights and advocate for their protection, participation, and development.