By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has reassured children in the state of their safety and importance under his administration, describing them as most precious treasures of Anambra’s future.
The Governor stated this over the week during the 2025 Children’s Day Celebration, which held for the first time at the newly commissioned Solution Fun City in Awka, the state capital — a picturesque leisure and tourism centre built by his administration and widely described as the biggest fun park in the South East.
The event drew enthusiastic participation from school children across the state and was also graced by key members of the Soludo administration, including the First Lady, Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo; the Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim and his wife; the State Head of Service, Barr. Theodora Igwegbe; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi; and the Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Chinedu Nwoye, among others.
Speaking at the occasion, Governor Soludo began by delivering a special message from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Nigerian children, wherein the President extended his warm wishes and encouragement to the younger generation across the country.
“Mr. President sends his love and support to all Nigerian children,” the Governor announced. “He asked me to tell you that you are the heartbeat of this nation and that everything we do today — every decision we take — is for your future.”
Governor Soludo went on to affirm his administration’s commitment to creating a child-friendly, secure, and progressive Anambra where children can dream, grow, and thrive without limits. He emphasized the centrality of education, health, protection, and recreation in his government’s children-oriented policies.
“Here in Anambra, you, our children are not just the leaders of tomorrow — you are the hope of today. That’s why we’re creating spaces like this Solution Fun City — the biggest in the entire South East — where you can enjoy, learn, relax, and feel safe. And we are not stopping here. We will build more and bigger fun cities like this to ensure every Anambra child has access to such opportunities,” he promised, while also reassuring the children of their safety under his government.
“You’re safe in our hands,” he declared.
He further highlighted that over 8,000 qualified teachers have already been recruited to strengthen the state’s education system, and that public schools now enjoy various upgrades under his administration. He also stressed that Anambra currently boasts of the lowest number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, thanks to deliberate policies on free education and inclusive schooling.
“Education is the passport to the future. We’re not just building classrooms; we’re building lives,” Soludo declared, urging the children to take their studies seriously and grow up to become responsible citizens who would carry Anambra to greater heights.
Earlier speaking, the First Lady of the state, Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo, described children as priceless gifts and urged parents, guardians, and institutions to rise to the task of giving them the best upbringing. She underscored the importance of building a society that is safe and nurturing for children regardless of their socio-economic background.
Also speaking, the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hon. Ify Obinabo, reaffirmed the Ministry’s dedication to safeguarding children’s rights, eliminating abuse and exploitation, and promoting inclusive development.
“Today is not just about celebration; it’s a reminder of our shared responsibility. We must continue to create room for every child to live, grow, and be heard,” Obinabo noted.
On her part, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, commended the Governor for his unprecedented investment in education and child development. She noted that the recruitment of quality teachers, construction of new classroom blocks, and provision of learning materials are already yielding positive results in academic performance across the state.
“Anambra children are now learning in dignity, and teaching is becoming a profession of pride again in our state under our amiable Governor,” she stated, while lauding the Governor for prioritizing and heavily investing in the state education sector.
The duo of Commissioners Chuma-Udeh and Obinabo also warned against any act bullying against any Anambra child, be it in school or elsewhere; even as they urged the children to always be courageous and speak up anytime they encounter such.
Adding a youthful voice to the celebration, the Speaker of the Anambra Children’s Parliament, Miss Victory Ekwunife, expressed profound gratitude to the Governor for prioritizing children in his policy agenda. She appealed for continuous support and urged her peers to make the most of the enabling environment created for them.
“We feel seen, we feel heard, and we feel valued. This government has truly shown that we matter,” she said.
Ekwunife also lauded Governor Soludo’s developmental strides in different sectors of the state, while also declared her support and that of Anambra children to the Governor, assuring him of their solidarity and prayers for his administration and dreams to keep Anambra on the progressive rise.
The event featured an exciting array of activities, beginning with a grand match pass by participating schools, cutting of a giant cake in honour of the day, followed by cultural dances, during which the audience was thrilled with energetic and scintillating performances that celebrated the rich heritage and diversity of Anambra State.
The climax of the event was the guided tour of the Solution Fun City — a state-of-the-art leisure park featuring a Ferris wheel, rollercoaster, drop tower, a water park, wave pools, dedicated kids’ zones, cinema halls, a vibrant family fun center, a world-class sports park, and an exclusive country club, interactive zones that left the children and guests in awe.
The children could be seen beaming with joy as they explored the attractions, fed their eyes interacted with government officials and tour guards. Some described the experience as a “dream come true,” expressing their feelings to remain their till day break, while also hailing and happily chanting solidarity song for Governor Soludo.
With visible excitement and widespread commendations, evidences abound that the 2025 Children’s Day celebration in Anambra stood out not just for its grandeur, but also for the strong messages it conveyed, especially reassurance that under Governor Charles Soludo, Anambra children are truly safe, valued, and positioned for a greater future filled with endless possibilities.
Also present at the event were the State Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Engr. Julius Chukwuemeka; Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, Mr. Don Onyenji; Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon. Tonycollins Nwabunwanne; Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor; as well as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Entertainment, Leisure and Tourism, Hon. Sir Bob-Manuel Udokwu, among other top government figures and personalities.
Watch video and more pictures from the event below:
