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Tag: parents

  • Parents urged to monitor use of social media by children

    Parents urged to monitor use of social media by children

    The Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) on Monday advised parents to monitor the use of the social media by children to prevent them from being exposed to immorality.

    The National President of MWAN, Dr Valerie Obot, gave the advice while speaking at the association’s 5th National Executive Council meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers.

    Obot, who spoke on the theme: `Effective Parenting of Children: The case of the Girl-Child said the failure of parents to monitor their female children’s access to and activities on the social media could lead to moral decadence among such children.

    “If you look at Nigeria in particular today, you will see that there is a lot of decadence in the society.

    “You will see that a lot of girls have turned to suicide bombers.

    “If the home is the first source of livelihood for a child to grow, then we must begin to train them (children) in order for us to have a good society tomorrow.

    “You are aware of all the challenges that the girl-child is passing through. So, our particular focus is a case for the girl-child because the girls are as good as the boys.

    “If you have a girl, you should parent your girl well. Let her know that she can be a leader and achieve whatever she would like to achieve, then you will see our girls not dropping out of school, but reaching their heights.“

    Obot said the association inaugurated a REACH-G programme recently with a focus on promoting empowerment, reproductive rights, education and access to adequate healthcare for the girl-child.

    She said the association was working hard to help reduce by 25 per cent the country’s annual maternal, infant and child deaths, which the United Nations rated the highest in sub-Saharan
    Africa.

    The national president said, “Apart from looking at the girls, we are also educating women by building capacity for primary healthcare workers to know when to refer pregnant women to hospitals for expatriate management.

    “We are also teaching women about reproductive health and giving them health information and services in order to stop the current high maternal mortality which results mainly from pregnancy.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the association released an eight-point communiqué that urged parents to establish communication channels between them and their children.

    The communiqué also advised parents to protect their children always and provide them with the relevant tools that would help, especially the girl-child, become effective leaders in future.

    It condemned the assault on female medical doctors in the course of their duty.

  • Parents urged to instill godliness in their children

    The Chairman of the Elders Council of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Province 27, Elder Seni Adegbite, has advised parents to instill the virtues of love, patriotism and godly principles in the lives of their children so that they would become change agents in our world.

    Adegbite said this at the Family Week celebration of the RCCG, Province 27 headquarters last Sunday in Ikeja, Lagos.

    The programme, which was held simultaneously across the RCCG parishes worldwide, brought together hundreds of Christian’s faithful. There were bible teaching, drama, song rendition, fun and entertainment for the children and their parents.

    According to Adegbite, the family remains the melting pot for love, oneness, togetherness and mutual understanding in any nation of the world. Families built on love, fairness, equity and godliness will rub off on the nation.

    He lauded the patriotic spirit exhibited by an average American which according to him makes them think about the wellbeing of their country first, above self, tribe or language sentiments.

    Adegbite posited further that when families are united and put their focus, interest and ambition on God and his word, intruders will stay far away from them and peace that passes all understanding will reign in such homes.

    He took a swipe at the federal government’s commitment to the release of the abducted Chibok girls. Said he: “Americans are ready to die for one citizen of theirs in captivity, not to talk of over 200 children who have been held hostage without any clue of their release soon.”

    He challenged Nigerians to rise above tribal, religious and ethnic sentiment and work together to build the nation that is currently in dire need of honest, forthright and faithful individuals to bring the desired development in our country.

  • Parents and drug abuse

    The discussions about drug abuse on our campuses came sharply into focus at a programme organised by the Bells University Parents’ Forum (BUPF) last Wednesday.

    The keynote speaker, Dr Dokun Adedeji, and members of a panel that discussed the topic: “Challenges of the Growing Use and Abuse of Drugs in Tertiary Institutions” did a good job telling us all we needed to know about substance abuse and addiction.  I particularly found the stories they shared touching and instructive.

    The keynote speaker shared how the only child of a wealthy couple was lured into drugs at age 10 by a relative who lived with them as an undergraduate. The boy then initiated his friends in the neighbourhood into marijuana smoking at such tender age. He was only caught when he was sent to boarding house in a faith-based secondary school. His parents were completely oblivious of his problem until he was sent away from school – after some years had gone by.

    Another speaker, Dr Olamijulo Fatiregun of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, shared a story about a student of a private university brought to him because he had very low blood pressure – one of the consequences of hard drug addiction.  The student was from a very religious family.  As a doctor, Fatiregun could see all the signs of drug addiction.  However, when he pointedly asked the boy if he did drugs, the young man out rightly denied it.  But it was his mother’s response that caught my attention.  The woman quickly came to her son’s rescue, stoutly defending him for being righteous.  She even told the doctor that he was ‘a choir director’ in their church, and so could not partake in such an unholy habit.  What a claim!

    The biggest lesson I took away from the programme was that parents cannot afford to pass on their responsibilities to the school.  Many parents do little beyond paying school fees and providing other material needs once their wards begin school.  However, such attitude does not help.  School administrators have complained about it over and over again.

    Research has shown that children whose parents monitor their education closely perform better in school.  Parents need to be vigilant about everything that concerns their children.  When they come from school, they should check their school bags, read letters/circulars or other correspondences from schools, attending open days, PTA meetings and interact regularly with the teachers and other workers that take care of their children.  They should also ask questions about their wards’ daily activities, examine their clothes and bodies, and watch for mood swings and other behavioural changes.  It is difficult for a parent that is so vigilant to miss when something goes wrong.

    If something is indeed wrong, rather than cover up, parents should simply ask for help.  Like was said at the meeting, some children have perfected the art of being very good at home and daredevils in school.  It is sometimes so bad that parents cannot reconcile what they hear about their wards’ behaviour in school with what obtains at home.  However, if such situations arise, parents must be open-minded enough to listen (to both the complainant and their wards), investigate, and then act.  Taking the stance of “my child can never do such” may end up haunting the parents at the end of the day.  It is good for parents to be able to stand up for their wards because there are situations where the case may be unfair or the allegations even false.  However, it is a very vigilant parent that should be confident to make such boast without fear of being disgraced later.

    Parenting is one of the most difficult jobs in the world.  There is no formal training for it, neither are there one-size-fits-all methods.  However, the eternal principles that govern human life – as espoused by the Bible and other religious books and values – always guide children in the right path.  Parents must painstakingly teach their wards such principles.  Failure to do so may result in the situation Dr Adedeji witnesses in his rehabilitation centre – parents in their twilight years seeking help for children aged 50 and above.  A sad end indeed!  This counsel applies to me as well.

  • Parents, teachers buy Ebola equipment

    Parents, teachers buy Ebola equipment

    Parents and teachers in Cross River State have acquired equipment worth N6.8 million to help check the Ebola Virus Disease.

    The state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Eyo-Nsa Itam, saidthe union had bought over 1, 200 cartons of hand gloves worth N1.5 million to be distributed to public schools.

    He said the Parent Teacher Association had raised funds to acquire 350 thermometer scanners at N15, 000 each to  be distributed to schools.

    The cost of the equipment is N5. 25million. The money, he said, would be recouped from pupils, who will pay N200 each.

    The NUT chairman said they were waiting for the government’s approval before schools can reopen.

  • ‘Why parents are stakeholders’

    ‘Why parents are stakeholders’

    Call it a Parent, Teacher Association (PTA) gathering and you will not be wrong because their assembly was more like it when parents and teachers of Benchmark Montessori School Ikeja, Lagos, met to delibrate on issues affecting the school.

    However, at the school, the tag PTA is a taboo, hence  they gathered as a ‘Stakeholders’ Forum’, meaning that every parent counts, and has a sense of belonging.

    The story behind the Stakeholders’  Forum started four years ago, precisely September 2010, when the school opened its doors for academics. Parents in the neighbourhood then had their misgivings on whether the school would meet their wards’ aspiration as it could only take off with 20 pupils despite the fact that facilities were on ground.

    Interestingly, those with reservations were proved wrong. It only took two terms for the school to convince everyone.

    “Since the inception of the school, parents were skeptical whether they could entrust their wards in our care. But, after only two terms, the story changed. Parents are now the ones spreading the good news and inviting others to enroll their children,” said the Head of School, Mrs. Olufolake Bisiriyu

    At a briefing at the school premises, Bisiriyu said parents keyed into the vision of the school on two grounds -quality service delivery and modest tuition.

    According to her, Benchmark Montessori School, Ikeja, is a social service founded by Dr. Teslim Sanusi, the Chief Executive Officer  of Cosmic Insurance, Ikeja, who having benefited immensely from the success of the company, decided to establish the school as his company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

    According to Bisiriyu, the school management sees parents as stakeholders and will never keep them in the dark concerning the philosophy of the school.

    “We carry our parents along in running the school. We see them as part of us and this has made us grow faster within four years of our existence. We remain committed to the ideals of a Montessori School with aims and objective of building a total child. Montessori is about life, to make a child better and do things on his/her own. You will be amazed that  a three year-old pupil can read fluently. With the aid of Montessori skill, our nursery pupils even read newspapers,” Mrs Bisiriyu added.

    As a result of its social status, the school management, Bisiriyu said, had not compromised on employing competent teachers. “Aside employing first degree teachers with teacher’s qualification, complementing same with regular training, they are also placed on the same salary scale with their colleagues in Cosmic Insurance, ditto for other condition of service,” added Mr. Tunde Rasaq, an Assistant General Manager, Finance and Administration, Cosmic Insurance, adding: “We pay according to the standard of Cosmic Insurance.”

    He continued: “This robust welfare package is our motivation and this is the reason some of the founding staff are still around. Here, we give value far above what parents pay as fees. For instance, what our pupils receive in terms of knowledge is worth the same you can get from other highflying schools that charges as much as N250,000 and above.  Here, we do it for less than N50,000. That I think is our unique selling point.”

    This, he said, accounted for why the school has been recording feats.

    “The first Common Entrance we did in 2012/2013 session, we got about 95 per cent results, and the kids moved to highbrow secondary schools,” said the school proprietor, Mrs. Modinat Sanusi, adding: “The same feat was repeated in 2013/2014. We even moved up the ladder as some of our pupils were offered admission to King’s College and others.”

    The founder’s religious orientation, Mrs Sanusi said, has no preference in the school as both Christian Religious Knowledge and Islamic Religious Studies are taught in the school.

    “So, everything is balanced because it is a unity school where we allow pupils to dwell in harmony,” she said.

  • Set good examples for children, parents told

    An education consultant and psychologist, Mrs. Ena Agodo, has called on parents to set good examples for their wards.

    She gave the advice while addressing the graduation of Darforte International Schools, Ahmadiya Bus stop, Lagos.

    Her words: “Charity begins at home. No matter what the school puts in place for the children if the home environment is not conducive to learning, the children cannot excel. So, I want to tell parents to make the home peaceful, neat and caring. Let the children learn how to use their time. Parents should teach them morals such as hard work, integrity, discipline, patience and friendship. Let all parents set good examples for the children to follow.”

    Mrs. Agodo advised grandaunds on how to choose a career. “The best way to decide the profession to pursue is to follow your natural abilities and interest. Do not base your decision to on money,” she said.

    She emphasised the importance of deep thinking in the journey of life. She advised graduating students to embrace vigorous thinking as a way of life.

    The school proprietress, Princess Titilade Ijiwole, disclosed that the school has installed Close-Circuit Television (CCTV) in response to security challenges in the country. According to her, the new device would enable the school management monitor movement around the school in order to take appropriate action in the event of security breach.

    She assured parents that the school will continue to maintain high standard in every aspect of education of the children.

  • WASCE: ‘Parents, school authorities responsible for poor results’

    DEPUTY Whip of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Rotimi Abiru, has said the poor performance of students in the just released West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) is a challenge to both school operators and parents.

    Reacting to the poor performance of students in the just released results, the lawmaker bemoaned the performance of students in the examinations adding that both parents and public and private school authorities must share in the blame.

    While advising parents that their duty does not stop at sending their children to good schools and providing private teachers for them, Abiru added that every parent must endeavour to devote more time for their children and also closely monitor their performance in school.

    He urged, “As parents, we need to pay more attention to what our wards do outside of school, how they spend their time outside of school and even while in school, we should monitor them as much as possible. For instance, I expect parents to at least be able to go through their children’s school bag and see if they have anything that could be distracting to them which they are in school.

    “Another trend that may be responsible for this poor performance is the engagement of our children with social networking, their exposure to computer, e-world and e-commerce. But it appears that because of the exuberance of these kids they get carried away coupled with the fact that some of these kids have sophisticated phones which they use for a lot of other things.”

  • Parents seek intervention in Oyo schools

    T HE Oyo State chapter of the National Parent-Teacher Association (NAPTAN) has urged the state government to address challenges facing education in the state.

    These were discussed at a forum organised by NAPTAN in Ibadan after which the group visited Governor Ajimobi to register their concerns.

    They complained about poor quality education which manifests through inability of the learners to express themselves orally or in writing.  They also demanded for improved security in the schools; adequate teachers, buses for inspection, and the reconstruction of dilapidated classrooms and school fences before a new session starts next month.

    One of the NAPTAN representatives, Mr Folorunsho Adetuyi, a teacher from Ibadan North local government, told The Nation of the urgent need for furniture in schools.

    “The schools need chairs and tables.  The pupils come to school and sit on the floor. The PTA is trying, but the government needs to come to our rescue,” he said.

    A parent from the council, Alhaji Akeusola Badmus, noted that the rehabilitation of dilapidated buildings and fences is “highly” important before September.

    In his response, Ajimobi assured them that resuscitating the education sector is a priority for his administration.

    He promised them that the state would provide 10 buses to ease transportation of 2,500 newly-recruited teachers, who will resume in September. He also said that dilapidated classrooms are being reconstructed by a Chinese expert, adding that the contract for model schools to be constructed in the three senatorial districts of the state has been awarded.

    “The general free uniform initiative will commence with these schools, afterwards it will be extended to other government primary and secondary schools.   Education should be one of the strong points of a progressive government,” he said.

    Meanwhile, there will be free lunch for Primary One pupils from September, Governor Abiola Ajimobi has promised.

    He hoped he would encourage lazy pupils to school and also enhance learning.

  • Parents pray for graduating pupils

    Parents pray for graduating pupils

    It was with passion and all the seriousness they could muster that parents prayed for their children during the Valedictory Service/ prize giving of Wellspring College, Omole in Lagos.

    Each graduand, not minding that the school field was a little wet from the rain, knelt before his/her parents as they prayed for their success, protection and guidance as they move on from secondary school in search of university education and greener pastures.

    The session, perhaps, provided the parents with an opportunity to beseech the Almighty to intervene in the lives of their children to right any wrongs they may have made in fulfilling their parenting role.

    This may have also been influenced by the day’s exhortation delivered by Dr Peter Olonade, which focused on the vital role parents play in the development of their wards from birth.

    Olonade said though God created man to achieve great feats, man is limited because of the activities of enemies within and without.  Contrary to the thinking that the enemies might be witches or demons, Olonade said they are most likely parents or relatives closely associated with the child (enemies within) or found in the larger society (enemies without).

    Rather than worry about the enemies without, Dr Olonade warned parents not to be the enemies of their own children by their deeds and misdeeds.

    He explained that it has been scientifically established that the intellect of children can be negatively affected if they are not well nurtured between 10 months and two years of age. He also added that negative emotional signals that children pick from their environment early in life can limit their learning.  As a result, he counseled parents to be mindful of the way they raise their children.

    “As parents, we are also carriers of destinies.  Parents have to be prepared so we can prepare our children for the world out there so no destiny would be truncated,” he said.

    Founder of the school, Mr Daniel Isimoya, said they take prayers seriously because it is the only way to insure the graduands for the future.

    “They have been with us for the past six years.  We are happy we were able to finish with them and they are intact.  They are leaving us; we are not in a position to teach them again but we can talk to God,” he said.

    Principal of the college, Mrs Oluwayemis Oloriade, counselled parents to make out time from their busy schedules to be with their children.

    “Parents have a lot on their hands because these children are exposed to many things in their absence.  If we are available for them, we teach them the right thing.  A day should be devoted by the mother or father for the children.  If you don’t give them the right values, outsiders will give them the wrong values,” she said.

    The highlight of the event was the unveiling of a billboard donated by the graduands to the school, and the presentation of gifts by the graduands to their parents.

    The event also featured other activities, such as dances, dramas and special songs.

  • Indigent parents require N3m to save boy’s life

    Indigent parents require N3m to save boy’s life

    With indigent parents, who can barely feed, eight-month-old Emmanuel, who is battling hole-in-the-heart ailment, faces a bleak future. He requires N3million for treatment, an amount which his parents cannot afford.

    His father, Henry Mekwunye is a casual worker; the mother, Oluchi, a petty trader.

    Emmanuel was diagnosed of the ailment at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos, on June 14 following an x-ray after he developed sudden cough.

    With her hands resting on her bosom, Mrs Mekwunye looked hopeless as she sat on the bed where her son was laid at the hospital yesterday. She watched how her son was being drip-fed instead of breast feeding him. “Life has not been fair to me,” she said, sighing.

    On June 13, it was discovered that Emmanuel had a cough and he was taken to a neighbouring pharmacy for first-aid medication.

    His father, who said the family thought it was a minor thing because they had always taken the boy’s health seriously, added that they were forced to take him to a private hospital when the symptoms persisted.

    After examining him at the hospital, the baby was referred to LASUTH, where series of tests were conducted.

    A chest x-ray exposed the hole in the boy’s heart which is known in medical parlance as Tetralogy of Fallot.

    “I was destabilised when it came to my knowledge that my son was going through such pains. And sadly, he could not talk to explain the extent of the pains.” Mekwunye said.

    Emmanuel has  been on oxygen for eight weeks to aid his breathing.

    The consultant in charge of the Department of Paediatrics at LASUTH, Dr Barakat Animashaun, has assured the family that Emmanuel’s ailment is curable.

    Since the hospital lacks the facility for the surgery, it was agreed that Emmanuel should be taken to Rak Hospital in Ras al-khaimh, United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the treatment, which would cost N3million.

    Mrs Mekwunye burst into tears as she bemoaned her family’s helplessness: “I know if my son is not treated with utmost urgency, it may affect other organs in his body system. He has rapidly lost weight, his tongue and lips have turned black. Each time he coughs, he throws up. I have no job, let alone bank savings. How are we going to raise such amount of money since we have nothing to put on sale? And my only child is my life; God, please help me,” she said.

    Mekwunye is an employee of a chemical company in Lagos struggling to make ends meet. Sources said the family has been surviving with God’s grace.

    The family is looking up to well-meaning Nigerians, government and non-governmental organisations for help.

    The family has an account with Access Bank Plc, No: 0690421712 and First Bank, 3085435732, under the name: Emmanuel Obinna Mekwunye.