Gombe State witnessed a historic moment on Monday as Ramlat Ahmed, a 16-year-old Senior Secondary School science student at Ilimi School, was officially inaugurated as the Speaker of the state’s Children’s Parliament. Alongside Ahmed, 14-year-old Christopher Ngale assumed the role of Deputy Speaker, with 10 other principal officers joining the seventh assembly to represent the voices of children across the state.
The inauguration ceremony took place at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and attracted a diverse audience including government officials, legislative officers, and child rights advocates. Aminu Aliyu, Principal Legislative Officer at the Gombe State House of Assembly, addressed the young lawmakers, emphasizing the importance of their roles: “You are to see yourselves as ambassadors of other children; you must carry yourselves in a manner that reflects the responsibilities of your offices.”
Highlighting the significance of the event, Modi Shelpidi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, noted that the state had lacked a functioning Children’s Parliament since 2022. “This assembly will go a long way in advancing not only children’s rights but also broader issues concerning women,” Shelpidi remarked.
Gabriel Galadima, Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs at the Gombe State House of Assembly, assured the young parliamentarians of the legislature’s support. “We are committed to teaching the children the rudiments of lawmaking. They should feel free to seek guidance from us whenever necessary,” he said.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Asma’u Iganus, praised Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his dedication to child welfare, citing his assent to the Child Protection Law and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law as evidence of his commitment. Iganus described the inauguration as “a historic and auspicious occasion aimed at empowering young people to understand legislative processes and participate in decisions that affect their lives.” She urged the young parliamentarians to advocate vigorously for children’s rights within and beyond the state and called on stakeholders to ensure a safe environment for children free from intimidation and harassment.
In a related initiative to commemorate the upcoming Children’s Day on May 27, officials from the Ministry, led by Commissioner Iganus, visited several orphanages including Al-Guh, Da’awah, Gombe House of Hope, and Destiny Kids Orphanage, distributing relief items to support vulnerable children.
