Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo says his government will sustain efforts to guarantee the welfare, safety and protection of every child in the state.

The governor gave the assurance in commemoration of the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, observed annually on June 4 by the UN.

It is observed by UN sister agencies to acknowledge the pain suffered by children who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse globally.

Mr Obaseki decried the plight of countless children across the globe who had suffered and continued to endure the devastating consequences of aggression and conflict.

He, therefore, reassured that his government would sustain reforms and programmes to guarantee an enabling environment where every Edo child could grow, learn, and thrive without fear of intimidation, discrimination and harassment.

The governor stressed the need to provide them with the right environment, infrastructure, tools, and opportunities to realise their fullest potential and contribute their quota to societal growth.

“This is why we have, in the past six years, sustained investments across all sectors of the state, ensuring access to quality education, healthcare and a nurturing environment that fosters their holistic development.

“Through our Edo State Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) programme, we have witnessed remarkable progress in transforming the education sector.

“With over 300,000 children benefiting from this programme, we have extended our efforts to integrate secondary and tertiary institutions, laying a strong foundation for the future success of our children.

“We recognise the need for accessible healthcare for our children and are working tirelessly to bring primary healthcare services closer to them, ensuring their basic healthcare needs are efficiently met,” he said.

(NAN)