By: Edem Archibong, Calabar
Governnor Bassey Edet Otu has initiated for the establishment of a
Special free primary/ Secondary Schools for all the Vulnerable Children of Cross River State indigenes of school age to ensure that no child will be expected to loiter/ hawk in the streets of the state during school period of the day.
This information was given to media practitioners in Calabar by the Special Assistant to the Governnor on Local Content, Mr. Awatt Calep during a brief interaction with media men to give update on the coming 20th anniversary of 2025 Calabar Carnival International annual event set for December.
Mr. Calep revealed that the free education program is a Brian child of the Governnor and his Wife, MRS. Eyoanwan Otu which the Governnor had celebrated his 66th Birthday with the children, and this have attracted the attention of the state Deputy Governnor, RT. HON. Dr, Peter Odey to indicate interest to be committed to the vision of establishing a free compulsory schools for all under privileged Children of Cross River State to attend the accademy free tuition and free feeding for formal education.
In attempts to realize the plan of special free education status, He claims that plans are on the offing to introduce a special education monitoring Marshalls that will move round the City of Calabar to effect arrest Children rooming about the streets during school hours.
Similarly, he further explained that the state Chief Justice AKON Ikpembe have been intimidated to create a special juvenile court for that purpose because those Children who would flaot the order will be prosecuted while parents are being cautioned in the state to be weary of the new trend. “No child of school age will be expected to be out of class during the school period for Hawking or loitering with school uniform will be permitted in accordance with the Child Rights act of Cross River State”.
On the activity of the perpetual streets Children in Calabar popularly known as “Scolombo” Children, the S. A. further narrated that the days of the streets Children will soon be over because research have revealed to the authority that those Children are not truly resident in the state but they are brought from outside the state into the Calabar City by motorist at midnight to dumb them here.
On this reason, he promises that Cross River State Capital which is a tourism destinations in Nigeria will not habour all unwanted Children as those who are not Cross Riverians would be sent back to their respective States of origin for safety and convenient.
He also stated that the essence of establishing of the “Citizens Academy” and provide them free and compulsory education is a design to make Calabar a save heaven for Tourist because the presence of the Street Children is a serious threats to the safety of tourist.
End