The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has called on all stakeholders to join hands and work against all forms of abuse of children, most especially bullying in the society.

Aiyedatiwa, who described bullying as a form of aggressive behaviour where someone intentionally harms, intimidates or humiliates another person repeatedly, said all hands must be on deck to protect the rights of the children.

The governor stated this at the 2025 edition of the National Children’s Day celebration, held in Akure, the state capital, on Tuesday.

Speaking on the theme of the celebration, ‘Stand up, speak up – building a bullying-free generation’, the governor explained that bullying could be physical, verbal or social and it leaves lasting harm.

He noted that children who were bullied may suffer emotionally, physically and academically which could lead to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, sleep disturbances and even social isolation.

Aiyedatiwa said, “Our children deserve better. They need our protection from all forms of harassment, exploitation and abuse. To build a bullying-free generation, we must act collectively and decisively. We must build a society free from oppression, injustice and inhumane treatment. We must build a generation of young people who are bold, resilient and confident. A generation that knows their rights and is not afraid to stand up for what is right, not just for themselves but for their peers as well.

“This is how we build a truly inclusive and safe society. All hands must therefore be on deck – parents, teachers, school administrators, religious bodies, traditional institutions, associations and government at all levels must play their part. And so must our children, who must be encouraged to speak up and support one another. We must instil empathy and kindness in our children.

“When we put ourselves in others’ shoes, we can build stronger relationships and more caring communities. Education is key to preventing bullying. We must raise awareness about its harmful effects and promote positive behaviour in all learning environments. We must also build robust support systems for victims: counselling, mentoring and safe spaces must be readily available. Moreover, we must empower bystanders to become upstanders – those who do not remain silent but act when they see something wrong.

“As a government, we remain unwavering in our commitment to child protection policies, school safety initiatives and programmes that promote mental and emotional health in our schools and communities. By the special grace of God, the government of Ondo State shall continue to prioritise the welfare of our children through our various initiatives, including payment of WAEC fees for secondary school students and the renovation of public schools across the State. We have also recruited over two thousand teachers for public secondary and primary schools to improve the standard of education in the state.”

Corroborating Aiyedatiwa, the Special Adviser to the governor on Women Affairs, Seun Osamaye, called on all stakeholders to take action against bullying among the children in schools and other areas.

“National Children’s Day is a significant National event that affords us the opportunity of celebrating our children by networking and also advocating for social welfare and rights in society. It is a day set aside to recognise, honour, celebrate and appreciate our children. It was established to promote international awareness, Unity, love among children worldwide, and to improve their welfare.

“This year’s theme, ‘Stand up, speak up; building a bullying-free generation’, is apt and timely as it addresses critical issues in school settings and calls on us all to take action against bullying among children and young adults, empowering our children to speak up through advocacy and confidence building.