Lagos Assembly Hosts 7th Children’s Parliament

The Lagos State House of Assembly has hosted members of the 7th Children’s Parliament to a plenary session aimed at giving young legislators practical exposure to parliamentary proceedings and deepening their understanding of leadership and representation.

The session, held at the Assembly Complex in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, was themed “Understanding the Proceedings of Parliament.” It provided the children with an opportunity to participate in their first legislative business and gain firsthand knowledge of how laws are made.

Welcoming the young parliamentarians on behalf of the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, Chairman of the Committee on Youth and Social Development, Hon. Orekoya Abiodun, urged them to maintain strong connections with their communities and understand the roles of their constituency representatives.

Orekoya explained that elected representatives play a crucial role in identifying and addressing the needs of their constituents, encouraging the children to develop a strong understanding of the challenges confronting their various communities.

In her goodwill message, the Clerk of the House, Mrs. Adenike Oshinowo, gave the children an overview of the legislative process and described the visit as an opportunity for them to understand the responsibilities associated with leadership and representation.

She urged the young legislators to appreciate the expectations of their communities and regard their positions as opportunities to serve and contribute positively to society.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Pharm. Mrs. Toyin Oke-Osayintolu, who represented the Commissioner, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, described the plenary session as a significant milestone for the 7th Children’s Parliament.

She noted that the session marked the first plenary of the 7th Children’s Parliament, describing the participation of the young legislators as both an achievement and a demonstration of their commitment to contributing meaningfully to society.

According to her, the Children’s Parliament provides a platform for young people to articulate issues affecting children across Lagos State and ensure that their voices are considered in matters relating to their welfare, safety, education and development.

Oke-Osayintolu, however, reminded the children that their positions should not be regarded merely as titles or personal achievements, but as a “call to service,” stressing that they had been entrusted with the responsibility of representing children across the state.

The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the 7th Children’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Abdulsalam Anjola, with the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Raji Aminat Temilola; Majority Leader, Hon. Ojeniyi Daniella; Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Olanrewaju Oladunni; Chief Whip, Hon. Salaudeen Hassanat; Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Babalola Esther; and Minority Leader, Hon. Kareem Toheebat, in attendance.

The proceedings featured the presentation of proposed bills, including the Out-of-School Children and Child Protection Bill; Child Safety, Drug Abuse and Domestic Violence Prevention Bill; and the Class Size and Instructional Materials Improvement Bill. The proposed legislation was read for the first time.

The young parliamentarians also considered a motion titled “The Need to Reduce the Number of Out-of-School Children and Protect Children from Street Life and Child Labour,” moved by the Majority Leader, Ojeniyi Daniella.

The motion was subsequently adopted as a resolution of the Children’s Parliament, underscoring the young legislators’ concern over issues affecting the welfare, safety and development of children in Lagos State.