A 16-year-old science student of Ilimi School, Ramlat Ahmed, has been sworn in as the new Speaker of the Gombe State Children’s Parliament.
The inauguration, held on Monday at the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development’s Conference Hall, also saw 14-year-old Christopher Ngale installed as Deputy Speaker, along with 10 other principal officers who will lead the seventh assembly of the parliament.
The event was attended by government officials, legislative personnel, and child rights advocates.
While administering the oath, Principal Legislative Officer at the Gombe State House of Assembly, Aminu Aliyu, urged the young lawmakers to be champions of children’s rights. “See yourselves as ambassadors of other children. Carry yourselves with the responsibility your office demands,” he said.
Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Modi Shelpidi, described the inauguration as a milestone in child welfare advocacy, noting that the state had not had a functioning children’s parliament since 2022.
Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Gabriel Galadima, assured the new parliament of the Assembly’s full support and mentorship in legislative procedures.
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Asma’u Iganus, hailed Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s commitment to children’s welfare. She called the inauguration a historic step toward youth empowerment and civic participation, citing the Governor’s assent to the Child Protection Law and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law as key achievements.
Iganus encouraged the young legislators to use their platform to advocate for children’s rights and urged all stakeholders to foster a safe, supportive environment for every child.
As part of activities ahead of Children’s Day, officials from the ministry also visited orphanages across the state, including Al-Guh, Da’awah, Gombe House of Hope, and Destiny Kids Orphanages, where they distributed relief materials.
Follow News Review on Facebook and X
