Xmas fun for Abuja Kids

The Yuletide is the right time to explore some of these places within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It is always a time of fun, laughter and also a time to thank God for the gift of life and sustenance from the beginning to the end of the year. As such, FCT residents are not […]

The Yuletide is the right time to explore some of these places within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It is always a time of fun, laughter and also a time to thank God for the gift of life and sustenance from the beginning to the end of the year. As such, FCT residents are not left out in the getting the fun and happiness that accompanies the season. Weekend Magazine visited some recreation centres where parents could take their kids to have fun during the period.
Millennium Park:
Located in Maitama, one of the coziest neighbourhoods in Abuja, this is the largest public park in the nation’s city. It has a wide expanse of land, covered with lush vegetation and a serene environment. Public holidays as well as festive periods such as Christmas are usually the best times to visit the park as different people, friends and families, spend time there relaxing.  This reporter caught up with a group of kids who had come from Dutse Alhaji, Bwari Area Council on a picnic sponsored by the Christ Apostolic Church, Land of Mercy parish. The lady who accompanied the kids, Mrs. Modupe Folorunsho, said this was the first time they were organising such an event for the kids. “We are hoping it would be a yearly event,” she said.
Some of the kids who were elated said they were grateful to the church for giving them the opportunity to see how the park looks like. Mayowa Oladele said: “I am very happy, and I enjoyed myself a lot, I learnt many new things today”. She added that children should be obedient to their parents and they should be helpful too because that is one of the lessons that can be learnt from Christmas. Solomon Folorunsho, said he felt excited to be there and that “it was a wonderful experience.” He said children should be respectful and desist from following bad friends because it could put them in trouble.
Maitama Amusement Park:
One place that you might think of visiting is the Maitama amusement park which provides a quick get-away for people living in that part of town. It has a number of restaurants for you to decide where to eat. Then for the kids, there are swings, merry go-rounds, slides and even bumper boats, depending on the ages of your kids, there is lot of stuff to do here.
When this reporter visited the park, she noticed it was a bit quiet. Few parents were seen around with their kids at the ice cream stand and close to the Santa Claus grotto. A parent, Mrs. Belief Marioghae, who resides in Kubwa, lamented the low turnout, describing it as “dry.” She attributed the situation to the security situation in the country: “People are avoiding such places because they don’t want to be in a crowded place so that they won’t be caught unawares.” She said it was the first time she was bringing her kids to the park. “In previous celebrations, we went to other places during the Yuletide but this year, I decided to bring the kids here. This is the first time we are coming here.”
Mr. Akintola Olufemi, a resident of Kurudu, also said it was his first time he was bringing his kids to the park: “I normally take them to Silverbird for movies or sometimes to any other park.”
General Manager of the park, Mr. Abdullahi  Kaku, said one of the challenges they have is that of convincing people to patronizing the place: “It hasn’t been easy convincing people to come out of their homes to the park. This is as a result of the security situation of the country.”
On putting together a Christmas show, they did it in partnership with Nigerian Television Authority.  Speaking on the partnership, a senior administrative officer of NTA, Mr. Tarsus Tarsoo, stated that it was the first time they were doing it outside the station as previous editions had always been in their office.
Weekend Magazine also met with ‘Santa Claus,’ Michael Nnamdi, who said he has been in the job for three years. He said he was there to make kids happy and satisfied at the end of the day. When asked how he felt about it, he said: “I feel happy about it. I love kids so it gives me a lot of joy when I see them happy when leaving here.”
It is the season of happiness, laughter, fun and excitement and kids in the FCT don’t want to be left out of it. While minding the security situation wherever they go, parents should ensure that their children are not left out.