Rivers state Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike
Amaechi, says the task of giving children proper upbringing is a collective
responsibility of the government, parents and every member of the society.

Governor Amaechi said this yesterday during
the interdenominational church service to mark the 2012 Children’s Day
celebration at the Royal House of Grace International Church, Rumueme, Port
Harcourt.

The responsibility of making society what
it is supposed to be through the proper upbringing of our children rests on the
government, parents and everyone else, Governor Amaechi, who is also the
Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum  (NGF)
said, adding that children also owe God and their parents the responsibility of
setting the right priorities for their lives.

The state chief executive stated that his
administration had, since its inception, been focused on developing the
potentials and capacity of children, disclosing that the state government had
invested huge resources to assure the welfare and overall development of
children in the state, calling on religious leaders to join the efforts at
giving children quality upbringing.

Also speaking, the state Commissioner for
Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mr Joseph Poroma said the church service was
done with the aim of celebrating our children, announcing that the Children’s
Day march past would be held on Monday, May 28, 2012 instead of Sunday, May 27,
2012 at the Isaac Boro Park, Port Harcourt.

Earlier, in his sermon, General Overseer of
the Royal House of Grace International Church, Apostle Zilly Aggrey had noted
that issues surrounding children’s behaviours were becoming a global concern,
stating that discipline plays a key role in regulating morality in the society.
He called  on parents to be alive to
their responsibilities towards their children, stressing that “you cannot
compromise standards, principles and ethics and get to the top, and as we
celebrate Children’s Day, we should go back to the Bible principles”.

The first and second lessons for the
service were read by the Deputy Speaker and House Leader of the state
children’s parliament, Hon Tammy Adienbo, and Hon Merit Nwaiwu respectively.

Dignitaries at the event include former
governors of the state, Chief Rufus Ada-George and Dr Peter Odili, his wife and
Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Odili, members representing Khana
Constituency 2, Hon Legborsi Nwidadah, and Opobo/Nkoro Constituency, Hon Andrew
Miller, the state Commissioners for Urban Development, Dr Tammy Danagogo and
Health, Dr Sampson Parker.

Others are chairman of Etche Local
Government Area, Mr Reginald Ukwuoma, Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt
City Development Authority (GPCDA), Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, Special Advisers
to the governor on NDDC, Dr Godknows Tam-George and Statistics and Strategy, Mr
Okey Okirie, chairman of the state council of traditional rulers and Amanyanabo
of Kalabari Kingdom, King Theophilus Princewill, among others.