• Mr. Akin Olajide
• Mrs. Oluyinka Ladoja
• The Punch Newspaper

1. School Begins
2. Lunch Break
3. The Club and the Threatening Note
4. The New Mystery Club
5. The Big Surprise
6. Good-For-Nothing-Clue
7. A Clue...at Last

Read Excerpts

I find it a pleasureable duty to address this special gathering of academia at this special occasion marking the presentation of the work "The Day School Began" written by my little girl - Mojisola Oludaisi Igun".

First and foremost, I want to express my profound gratitude to the families of the author for deeming it fit to invite me as the special guest. On receipt of your invitation a couple of weeks ago, I directed the protocol department of my office to ensure that no other programme or engagement is fixed to clash with today's affairs. This is to show the high esteem in which this programme is held by me.

Lest I forget, I want to congratulate the two families for living to see this historic day. It is historic because this type of achievement by a very young girl under ten is most rare in the history of people of tender age.

In addition, I am happy because;

1. Were celebrating the academic achievement of a child
2. This gathering is enlightening and;
3. This address which centers on children, parents and education will reach the target audience.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the children of a nation constitute a group that can not be ignored if the nation must move forward. They are considered the most vital resources for national development. Children constitute a great reservoir of energy, resourcefulness, creativity and dynamism required in any national struggle, if correctly guided, adequately mobilized and fully integrated into the fabrics of society. On the other hand, they may constitute a threat to national survival and stability if allowed to drift by moral decadence, or negatively display their natural endowments. In essence, children are regarded as trustees of prosperity.

In the beginning, things were smooth and rosy. The spirit of nationalism with which the independence was won became a national strength, ensuring unity and stability. The economy was buoyant. Cultural affinity was very strong as each segment of the country had a very rich cultural heritage to be proud of. In the Nigeria of old, social values were among the instrument of social control.

It is no longer news to all of us that the goodies of yesterday from where we, mothers and fathers, had realized our dreams are no longer there. The system is battered; the students can now afford to take to armed robbery, prostitution, assassination and other vices too many to list in this address. Worse still, many schools and colleges are home to cult activities as parents have lost control of their children. This is an unwelcome development.

The United Nations Organization regards education as an inalienable right of every child. It is a powerful weapon to banish poverty, ignorance, retrogression and disease. In the words of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, "To educate the children and enlighten the adults is to lay a solid foundation not only for future social and economic, but also for political stability. A truly educated citizenry is in my view, one of the most powerful deterrents to dictatorship, oligarchy and feudal autocracy."

Education like death is a leveler. It breaks down artificial barriers of sycophancy erected by abysmal ignorance. It opens a rainbow of opportunities for our children regardless of any accident of birth. Talent are not allowed to get strangulated by a fetish adherence to unjust societal stratification.

Mr. Chairman, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, eight years in the history of my little girl is very small when compared to her achievement. However, I must be quick to tell you all the Mojisola's success at this tender age is a manifestation of her family's intellectual background. Papa we all know is a genius. In addition, her conducive academic environment might have contributed to the successful compilation of this work.

My dear parents, Mojisola's work is a challenge. She is a shining example to all of us. It is in this view that I call on parents and guardians to rise up and shoulder the responsibilities of their children, tailor and drift them to appreciate the realities of life. Towards this direction, the future must be made bright by directing children's attention and energies towards productive ventures for the translated benefit of the nation. They must be taught the need to translate their sense of creativity into meaningful actions, and to eradicate those features of our behaviors which made our society a ward for disharmony, dishonesty and distrust.

It is only through this concretized action that our children can become self reliant problem solvers, ready to face the challenges of their lives and correct them and set up concrete ideologies and logically pursue them, as we can see in Mojisola's work. Our children should emulate Mojisola who has used her leisure time on fruitful venture.

At this juncture, I want to state that the assertion "children are the leaders of tomorrow" is a misplaced judgment. With rainbow and seven colors in some of our previous schools and colleges, I begin to wonder how the would-be leaders of tomorrow can realize their dreams. The statement is better re-coined to mean "cultured and well tutored children are leaders of tomorrow". After all, the armed robbers, assassins, 419ers and many others that are engaged in illicit affairs where once children.

It is on this note that I give kudos to the parents of Mojisola for providing her all the necessary support to enable her to achieve this feat. It goes to say therefore that if our children and wards must emulate shining examples, we must endeavor to get copies of this book in our homes. As for me, I promise to purchase copies of the book, The Day School Began, for distribution to school libraries and media resource centers in the state when finally reviewed.

The present government of Oyo State is gradually running away from general education where children go to school for the sake of it.

This government believes that if pupils and students would achieve this type of feat, our education must be revamped and repositioned. It is in the light of this that His Excellency, Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, the Executive Governor of Oyo State has ordered immediate decongestion of schools in the state to 900 students per school and a maximum of 30 students per class. It is hoped that with friendly atmosphere and adequate human resources, children will enjoy the best of time in their schools.

Children, like yam tendrils, adapt to situations and examples of what they see. A celebrated poet, Dorothy Law Nolte in her "Children Learn What They Live" said;

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.
If a child has security, he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world.

Almost all the parameters listed by the poet are no longer available in many families. There is war and hunger; there is tension and apprehension; the wretched and poor are crying and eventually, the rich and the affluent can not sleep. This is food for thought for you and I.

Our children should not only develop but develop well; they should not only live but live well so that the present generation of children would not go to waste.

In vain we build the city if we do not first build our children.

Finally, the chairman of this occasion, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted and fulfilled to be part of this memorable occasion and sincerely look forward to more of this noble achievement from our children. I thank you all for listening.

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year in advance