Children’s Day: Orok Duke Celebrates Calabar South Children, Rewards Young Athletes …Distributes cash gifts, food items, educational support

 

In commemoration of the 2026 Children’s Day celebration, the Cross River State Representative on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Rt. Hon. Orok Duke, PhD, has reaffirmed his commitment to child welfare, youth empowerment, and grassroots development by hosting hundreds of children from Wards 4 and 5 of Calabar South Local Government Area.

The colourful event, held at Amayo Duke School, Egerton, brought together children, parents, community members, and supporters in an atmosphere filled with excitement, entertainment, and goodwill as participants gathered to celebrate the annual event dedicated to the rights, protection, and future of Nigerian children.

Hundreds of enthusiastic children, accompanied by their mothers and guardians, participated in the celebration, which featured the distribution of gifts, food items, and financial support to attendees.

Speaking during the event, Rt. Hon. Orok Duke emphasized the importance of investing in children, describing them as the foundation of a peaceful, progressive, and prosperous society. He noted that meaningful development can only be achieved when leaders pay deliberate attention to the education, welfare, moral upbringing, and empowerment of young people, especially those at the grassroots.

According to him, Children’s Day serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility of government, institutions, parents, and community leaders to create opportunities that will enable children to thrive and realize their full potential.

He further stated that his continuous interventions in education, youth development, and social welfare were driven by his passion for improving the lives of vulnerable families and building a brighter future for the next generation.

As part of activities marking the celebration, Duke distributed substantial cash gifts, foodstuffs, and other relief materials to children and families present at the event. Several parents also benefited from financial assistance aimed at addressing urgent family needs, healthcare challenges, and educational support for their children.

Some beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the gesture, describing it as timely and impactful amid prevailing economic challenges. They commended the NDDC representative for maintaining close ties with his constituents and consistently supporting community-focused initiatives.

The celebration later shifted to the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, where Rt. Hon. Orok Duke extended his Children’s Day outreach to young athletes, including teenage table tennis players and swimmers training at the facility.

In a show of encouragement for sports development and youth participation in athletics, Duke donated a bag of rice to the swimmers and presented each athlete with a cash gift of N5,000.

Addressing the young athletes, he encouraged them to remain disciplined, focused, and committed to excellence, stressing that sports remain a vital platform for youth empowerment, talent discovery, and national development.

The event at the stadium was witnessed by the Chairman of the Cross River State Sports Commission, Hon. Lawrence Etta, alongside coaches, sports officials, and supporters who applauded the initiative and described it as a morale booster for the young athletes.

The Children’s Day celebration formed part of Rt. Hon. Orok Duke’s broader commitment to community service, youth engagement, and humanitarian support across Cross River State.