The Speaker Abia State House of Assembly, and the Deputy National Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislators, Rt. Hon. Martins Okechukwu Azubuike, has charged parents to always adhere to the Biblical injunction in Proverbs 22:6, of “Training up their Child in the way he should go.”

He gave the charge in a press statement endorsed by his Chief Press Secretary, Prince Clinton Uba, on the occasion of this year’s Children’s Day celebration. The Speaker advised parents to pay more attention to the upbringing of their children with emphasis on good moral values, discipline, and inculcate the fear of God in them so as to make them responsible to them, the society and the country at large.

Rt. Hon. Azubuike assured Abia children of the resolve of Abia 6th Assembly to enact laws that will protect the rights of children. He enjoined them “to celebrate the day with the mindset that the present economic situation in Nigeria is temporary and the country will soon come alive through collective hard work and prayers.”

The Speaker reaffirmed the commitment of the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu-led administration to create an enabling environment that will allow every child born in the state to have “inalienable rights and access to quality, qualitative, affordable education and healthcare service, in an environment where there is peace, and protection of lives and properties.”

He noted that “children are the soul of any nation, its work force, hope and anchor commodity”, assuring them that the State House of Assembly will tackle issues of domestic violence against children, rape, and street trading.

•Photo shows Abia Speaker, Rt. Hon. Azubuike.