By Adeboye Ado
As part of his visions to foster good relationship among his subjects, the Owa-Ale of Ikare-Akoko, Oba Adeleke Adegbite-Adedoyin II, on Saturday 27th May, 2023, organized a memorable Party for children from across various part of the town to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebration.
The Children’s Day Party is the first of such ceremony at the Palace in recent years.
Speaking at the well-attended by pupils draws from various primary and secondary schools in the hilly ancient town, Oba Adedoyin pledged his readiness to offer assistance to out-of-school children in Ikare-Akoko, in the Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The first class Monarch flanked by his Olori and some Chiefs, danced and played with hundreds of the children, urging parents to give top priority to education of their children to protect and secure their future.
Owa-Ale had at the beginning of this academic session donated learning materials and school uniform to some secondary school students as part of efforts to encourage school enrollment among Ikare children.
While addressing the cheerful children, Oba Adedoyin, also pledged to aid the education of pupils in dire need of financial help, adding that the unalloyed gesture would drastically reduce the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
He noted that crimes and criminalities on the rise in the country could be linked to untapped opportunities and dearth of assistance to support children passionate about education.
The Renowned Lawyer said the announced charitable gesture basically channeled to pupils was not his time to render invaluable help to the needy.
“If we have discouraged pupils in Ikare, they should come to the Palace to register their presence, we will support them.
“We have been doing this for long, this is not the first time and we won’t stop doing our best to stamp out-of-school children on the streets.
“Ikare has prominent sons and daughters who have been helpful to the town, we must prioritize and sustain education so as to build future leaders who will take Ikare to an enviable height. We don’t want thugs in our land again. We shall support indigent children to acquire education in Ikare,” the Royal Father said.
Owa-Ale nominated some Chiefs to monitor academic activities and performance of children in the area, in order to achieve his visions.