From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The Naomi Stephen Children Foundation, also known as Favour Global Children Foundation, hosted the Kaduna Summer Children’s Party and Talent Show yesterday
The event, themed “Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders Through Play and Creativity,” was held at Stemar Pinnacle Event Center, 3rd Avenue, Federal Housing Estate, Gonin Gora, Kaduna.
The children’s party provided a safe and engaging environment where children could learn, socialize, and express their creativity while developing skills that could contribute to their personal growth and future leadership.
As part of efforts to promote creativity, confidence, and leadership development among children, the summer party featured games, a talent show, paper presentations, awards, and interactive activities allowing children from different backgrounds to interact, make new friends, and enjoy a memorable holiday experience in a child-friendly environment.
Speaking during the event, the Chairperson of the Civil Defence Officers’ Wives Association, Kaduna State Chapter, Mrs. Victoria Panam Musa, commended the initiative, saying it is timely as children are on holiday and need time to refresh themselves before school resumes in September.
Mrs. Victoria emphasized that raising children is everyone’s responsibility in society, hence the need for government at all levels, parents, teachers, and families to take it seriously and create more opportunities for children to play, explore, and express their creativity, describing such activities as essential for developing future leadership skills.
On his part, the guest lecturer, Dr. Alabi Usman Dauda, Head of the Department of Fashion Design and Clothing Technology, Kaduna Polytechnic, who presented a paper titled “Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders Through Play and Creativity,” explained that play is not merely entertainment but one of the earliest and most effective ways through which children learn, explore, communicate, solve problems, and develop confidence.
According to him, creativity enables children to transform imagination into ideas, ideas into solutions, and solutions into innovations that make positive contributions to society.
“Every inventor, artist, scientist, entrepreneur, and leader was once a curious child. The responsibility before us is to create an environment where children can discover their talents, express their ideas, and develop the skills needed for the future,” he said.
The lecturer noted that educational scholars such as Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky, John Dewey, and Friedrich Froebel have emphasized that children learn best through active participation, exploration, social interaction, and practical experiences.
Dauda urged parents to encourage children to ask questions, experiment, and create, stressing that children who are allowed to explore are more likely to become adaptable, confident, and productive adults.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Foundation, Comrade Shedrack Ovye Anzaku, welcomed all dignitaries, sponsors, and children attending the event.
He explained that the day would not have been possible without the help of some individuals and organizations, including the father of the day, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa Rtd, the mother of the day, Mrs. Victoria Panam Musa, Chairperson of the Civil Defence Officers Wives Association, Air Commodore Aisha Abdullahi (retired), Indoime, Seven-up, Nigerian Breweries, and others.
Comrade Anzaku stated that the foundation aims to sustain the summer children’s party and to improve and create additional programs to educate and entertain children.
He mentioned that the foundation, which began operations in 2020 and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in 2021, has previously carried out programs including “Operation Feed One Hundred Kaduna Children,” hospital visits, and orphanage feedings.
The Coordinator called on everyone to support the foundation so it can thrive.
Goodwill messages were given by the representative of the Sarkin Gonin Gora, Chief John Dodo, and the North-West Secretary of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Hajiya Daharatu Ahmed Aliyu, among others.
The highlight of the event included the presentation of awards to the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa Rtd, as the Guardian of Peace and Youth Mentor; Mrs. Victoria Panam Musa, as Chairperson of Civil Defence Officers Wives Association, Pillar of Unity, Progress & Child Advocacy; Air Commodore Aisha Abdullahi (Rtd), for excellence in Military health & community development; and Dr. Alabi Usman Dauda, for excellence in fashion education and innovation, among others.
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