Turkish children's festival observed in Nigeria

By Tuba Sahin

ABUJA, Nigeria (AA) – Turkiye's National Sovereignty and Children’s Day was observed in the Nigerian capital Abuja on Saturday.

The Turkish public holiday was celebrated in the Turkish Embassy in Abuja by Turkish and Nigerian children alike.

The event, organized by Yunus Emre Institute, featured lunch for kids and a Turkish song performance by the orphanage students.

Named after the influential poet Yunus Emre, the institute has over 63 cultural centers around the world offering artistic, social, and scientific programs, since its establishment in 2009.

Hidayet Bayraktar, Turkiye’s ambassador in Abuja, highlighted the importance of the day, saying Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Republic of Turkiye, dedicated it to children as the nation’s future.

The children sat in the chair of the Turkish ambassador and made a statement in a symbolic gesture.

Turkiye on Saturday celebrated National Sovereignty and Children’s Day, observed every year on April 23, as well as the 102nd anniversary of the foundation of parliament.

The special day in Turkiye is marked by a festival for children, and public offices, schools, and the private sector also hold programs.

The parliament or Grand National Assembly met for the first time in the capital Ankara in 1920 during the War of Independence to lay the foundations for an independent, secular, and modern republic.