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Tag: parents

  • Parents withdraw kids from schools in Ondo

    Parents withdraw kids from schools in Ondo

    There was panic yesterday among parents of school children in Akure, Ondo State capital, as rumours spread that some pupils had died after they were given suspected deadly vaccine by unidentified soldiers.

    Many parents withdrew their children from schools before closing hours but were resisted by the schools’ management.

    As early as 9 am, rumours filtered that about 20 soldiers invaded some schools at Ore, headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area, and allegedly administered vaccine on some school children.

    Three of such children were rumoured to have died.

    But it was learnt that the rumour, which also went viral on social media, was unfounded.

    At many schools in Akure and neighbouring towns of Oba-Ile, Ilaramokin and Ifon, no soldier was sighted.

    Anxious parents stormed many public and private schools in the state capital to withdraw their children.

    This caused chaos at Fiwasaye High School in Alagbaka area of the town.

    Also, police officers were drafted to man gates of the schools.

    The situation made it difficult for any individual to enter the schools.

    The management of Ejioba High School at Oba-Ile, a suburb of Akure, hurriedly released their pupils and the headteacher, to address reporters.

    The school said the Ministry of Education instructed headteachers not to comment on the matter.

    Army authorities denied the allegation, saying none of its officers was involved in administering a vaccine in the state.

    Spokesman of the Nigerian Army Artillery in Akure, Major  Ojo Adelegan, stressed that no officer can administer a vaccine on a child for any reason.

    He urged the public to consider the rumour as the handiwork of detractors.

    Adelegan said: “There was nothing like that. No officer administered a vaccine on any child in any part of the state. It was a mere rumour, which only exists in the minds of those peddling it. Pupils should continue with their studies and parents should not be worried by the rumour.”

    Also, the Ondo State government described the rumour as baseless and unfounded.

    It called on the citizenry to disregard it.

    A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Yemi Olowolabi, quoted the government: “Real-time investigation across the state has shown that none of such things exist in Ondo State.”

    READ ALSO: MonkeyPox: Panic as parents withdraw children from public schools in Edo

     ‘Disregard rumours on harmful vaccination’

    Ondo State Health Commissioner Dr Wahab Adegbenro has urged parents and guardians to disregard rumours about some deadly vaccine allegedly administered on pupils by “unknown soldiers”.

    The commissioner described the report as untrue.

    He said there was no immunisation campaign in the state, besides  the routine immunisation at health facilities.

    Adegbenro said the people would be notified whenever there was an immunisation campaign.

    He urged residents not to misconstrue the current net campaign for an immunisation.

    The Health commissioner noted that the state’s vaccines were potent enough, adding that the people will be notified when a vaccination takes place.

    Adegbenro appealed to heads of educational institutions not to allow any immunisation in their schools until the government so directs.

    He reassured residents that the government places a high premium on health and lives.

     

  • Parents warned against aiding wards to cheat

    A lecturer with the University of Ilorin, Dr Issa Sanusi, has warned parents not to assist their children to cheat in examinations.

    Sanusi, of the Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Arts, made the call at a public function yesterday in Ilorin.

    He was speaking at the closing of a summer lesson, organised by Balogun Gambari Youth Movement.

    According to him, exam malpractice remains one of the challenges facing the education sector.

    The lecturer said employers no longer have confidence in the quality of certificates from the nation’s institutions due to exam malpractice.

    “This is largely due to fraudulent means of acquiring certificates as it has become the order of the day in our society,” he said.

    Sanusi stressed the need for stakeholders to rise up to the challenges facing education by discharging their responsibilities effectively.

    He warned that unless exam malpractice was abated, the country may be producing uneducated citizens that could become liability to the society.

    The don urged government to provide environment conducive for pupils and students to learn and give priority to welfare of teachers.

    The Chairman, Kwara State Teaching Service Commission, Malam Abdulrazaq Ibrahim, described exam malpractice as ‘a canker worm eaten deep into the fabric of the education sector’.

  • Back to school: Parents devise new strategy

    Back to school: Parents devise new strategy

    At this time of every year, back-to-school shopping is the in-thing. But with the recession, parents are devising new means to equip their wards for school resumption. This is taking a toll on sales, as school shopping is on a sharp decline compared to last year, TONIA ‘DIYAN reports.

    Shopping for school children is still an expensive proposition, but this year, parents are planning to trim their spending and focus on necessities.?

    Roughly eight out of 10 shoppers whether buying for primary, secondary or higher levels of education , say they’ll adjust their spending plans to deal with the economy.

    As they continue to grapple with the impact of the persistent recession, people will look to cut corners where they can, but will buy what their kids need.?

    Parents who can manage to shop for school-age children at this time of recession had an early start, with 15. 9percent of such families saying they already scouring book racks and nosing through supermarkets shelves since June. These  few early birds have been launching their back-to-school preparations since June.

    More than a third of parents say they plan to do more comparative shopping online. Four out of 10 shoppers say they’ll hit the Internet for their retail needs

    Back to school is not only the second-largest shopping period after Christmas  holidays, but it’s one when many conventional physical stores are competing against the surge of online competition.

    Although e- commerce is fast growing. analysts say that children and their parents still like visiting stores to purchase items on their back-to-school lists .

    Online shopping came third, when consumers were asked to name all the places they were planning to do their Back to school buying. Almost 16percent of those surveyed said they would do some online shopping, showing the strong growth of e-commerce.

    On the other hand, 68percent of shoppers said they don’t envision buying all of their school supplies online, they always want to see, touch and interact with products

    For many youngsters and their parents, the store visits are as important as the convenience of e-commerce. It’s one thing for kids to give their parents a holiday wish list and hope for the best, and quite another for kids to demand a select type of notebook, backpack or apparel after they’ve looked them over on the Internet . Online is used more to do research than to actually pull the trigger and buy.

    The Nation Shopping spoke with a parent at Balogun market . She said another reason people visit physical stores is the need to make last-minute purchases, and she confessed she is in that group.

    “Every year, I wait till it’s two days before the start of school before visiting the market to purchase school supplies,” she said. “You’re almost forced to visit a brick-and-mortar store rather than waiting for a shipment from online because it’s  late already .”

    Experts have said beyond the immediate sales Back to school shopping generates, the season is crucial for retailers to make brisk sales.

    Back-to-school season is a key marketing tool for retailers because the level of their service, prices and convenience will determine whether customers return in four months for the Christmas season.

    They’re focused on this season being a great platform to expose to the consumer what they can offer.

     

  • Three children, parents die after rice meal in Anambra

    •Police: we’re waiting for autopsy 

    A family of five has reportedly died after eating a meal suspected to contain poison at Umuatuegwu Okija in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    The father of the three children was said to be a commercial motorcycle (Okada) operator, Albert Ndenemenu.

    His wife, Nwanne, as well as their three children reportedly died after eating the meal.

    Details of the incident could not ascertained last night, but police spokesperson Princess Nkeiruka Nwode told reporters that the command was waiting for autopsy reports on the deceased’s bodies.

    There were conflicting reports on the likely cause of the deaths, but the police spokesperson said the command would not speculate but investigate the matter and get its facts right.

    Though Nwode did not speak on the alleged arrest of some suspects on the incident, but The Nation gathered that three persons had been arrested over the matter.

    A source, who spoke in confidence from Okija, said the deaths were through food poisoning, while some others claimed they were fetish-related.

    An eyewitness at Umuatuegwu Okija said Mrs. Ndenemenu, who was the last to die, prepared rice for the family’s lunch.

    All members of the family were said to have eaten the food.

    Shortly after, her husband and her children reportedly started vomiting blood.

    When some villagers rushed into their compound, following her alarm, all the family members were said to have died.

    The source also said the woman collapsed on seeing her husband and children dead.

    She was reportedly taken to Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) at Nnewi, where she died.

    A resident of the community Sir Ignatius Okonkwo said the cause of deaths was yet to be ascertained.

    The man noted that efforts to prevail on the authorities of NAUTH to conduct an autopsy on the family did not yield fruit.

    Another person, said to be an in-law to the family, was said to have taken the bodies to a mortuary.

    The Nation gathered that when stories were making the rounds that the family was poisoned, the in-law brought the five dead bodies back to their house, where they were lined up in the open for several hours.

    Other members of the family were said to have later returned the bodies to the mortuary.

     

  • Umbilical cord care: Dos and don’ts for parents

    Umbilical cord care: Dos and don’ts for parents

    A newborn’s umbilical cord stump usually falls off within about two weeks after birth. If a baby’s umbilical cord stump is not treated gently, it can lead to sepsis or infections and eventual death. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA writes on modern way of umbilical cord care.

    • Chlorhexidine has the answer, say experts

    During pregnancy, the umbilical cord supplies nutrients and oxygen to the developing baby. After birth, the umbilical cord is no longer needed — so it is clamped and snipped. This leaves behind a short stump.

    A baby’s umbilical cord stump will change from bluish white to black as it dries out and eventually falls off — usually within three weeks after birth.

    Why that natural process is on-going, experts say there is no need to rub alcohol, use hot heat or do anything to the cord.

    They said the use of Chlorhexidine Gel, now widely available across the country, is the recommendation of the World Health Organisation (WHO). That takes care of the formation of sepsis or any other infection that arises from the cord.

    The President, Paeadiatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), Dr Ibeziako N. Stella,  said parents were once instructed to swab the stump with rubbing alcohol after every diaper change.

    “Researchers now say the stump might heal faster if left alone. If the stump becomes dirty or sticky, clean it with plain water – then dry it by holding a clean, absorbent cloth around the stump or fanning it with a piece of paper. The application of Chlorhexidine Gel is the gold standard now.

    “All a mother needs do is to apply same immediately the child is cleaned after deliver just once in a day. It works for 24 hours. One application is all that is required as it takes care of formation of any sepsis or other infections,” explained Dr Ibeziako.

    She said one should expose the stump to air to help dry out the base. “Keep the front of your baby’s diaper folded down to avoid covering the stump. In warm weather, dress your baby in a diaper and T-shirt to improve air circulation.

    “Sponge baths might be most practical during the healing process. When the stump falls off, you can bathe your baby in a baby tub or sink. Please let the stump fall off on its own. Resist the temptation to pull off the stump yourself. Do not give the child drinks including Gripe water which is already banned by NAFDAC. Just continue to breast feed the baby for six months on exclusive breast milk. No water. No herbal solutions or concoctions,” she advised.

    Giving further insight on the gel,

    Dr Ibeziako said: “ There is a greater risk of infection which is a major cause of newborn deaths – in developing countries like Nigeria.

    “To ensure a pragmatic change in behavioural for parents, even caregivers, the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) in partnership with the USAID’s Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP) has organised a two-day Southern Zonal Dissemination/ Stake-holders Workshop on Chlorhexidine Gel for care givers that cut across health service devivery.”

    She said as with all medications, care must be taken to ensure that the product is used appropriately. 7.1 per cent chlorhexidine digluconate for umbilical cord care should be kept out of eyes and ears and should be applied only to the umbilical stump.

    In 2015, it came to the attention of the global Chlorhexidine Working Group (CWG) that 7.1 per cent chlorhexidine digluconate aqueous solution (liquid) for umbilical cord care was mistakenly applied to the eyes of at least five children in Nigeria, causing eye injury.   Chlorhexidine has been in use for over 50 years and has a well–characterised safety profile when used as directed.

    “The formulation of chlorhexidine digluconate used for cord care when used as directed, is effective in preventing neonatal sepsis due to bacterial exposure through the fresh umbilical stump.  However, it can cause serious harm if applied to the eyes and should also not be put into the ear canal.”

    Chlorhexidine scale-up specialist, USAID’s Maternal and Child Survival Program(MCSP), Dr. Olayinka Umar-Farouk said: “It is important that persons and organisations responsible for chlorhexidine for umbilical cord care programmes and for the distribution of the chlorhexidine for umbilical cord care product to caregivers ensure that instruction is provided on the appropriate use of the product, including appropriate warnings, that is part of why this program was put in place.”

  • Alleged maltreatment: Govt rescues boy from parents

    An 11-year old boy, Master Chibuike Alexander Unegbu, has been  rescued from his parents and handed over to Federal Capital Territory Administration’s (FCTA) Social Development Secretariat (SDS).

    The long journey to Chibuike’s rescue commenced when a concerned resident placed a call to the FCTA Call Centre, complaining that young Chibuike’s human rights were being trampled upon by his own parents.

    According to the anonymous caller, for many years, Chibuike was being locked up in his parents’ house, with all doors padlocked whenever they were not around; adding that unlike the couple’s other two younger kids, he (Chibuike) never went out with the parents to anywhere, including church and that he was not in school.

    Investigation revealed that persistent efforts by a combined team of the Nigeria Police (Lugbe Division) and the FCT Administration who paid several unsuccessful visits to the house in Lubge to save Chibuike finally paid off last week when they met his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ifeoma Chinasa Okwu and invited them to Lugbe Police station for questioning.

    Acting Director, Gender, Social Development Secretariat, Mrs. Agnes Hart while speaking with newsman on the development stated that the Secretariat confirmed the allegations through the Call Centre that: “a child somewhere in Lugbe was being locked in the house without care. That he is not taken out whenever the family is going out. They don’t take the child either to church or out anywhere.”

    Mrs. Hart went on: “And we felt very concerned that this shouldn’t be happening in the FCT. This is a very serious form of abuse so we contacted the Nigeria Police in Lugbe who kept on promising us to do something about it but because we have the best interest of this child, we decided that we would bring the child and the family together.”

    She revealed that the FCT has Child Rights Act which enables it to arrest or take such cases very seriously, warning that the FCT Administration would not take such abuses lightly.

    “If you are a biological mother and you are molesting the child in anyway, we won’t take it lightly. So am sounding a note of warning to all parents, if you have intention of wanting to maltreat a child in FCT, it won’t be tolerated. We have the best interest of the child at heart. This is a clear form of abuse and we will not tolerate it in the FCT,” she warned.

    Mrs. Okorie, while responding to the allegations expressed shock and added that she and her husband was giving Chibuike and the others children the best they could without segregation.

    “Am surprised that it is termed that am neglecting my child, the child I had when I was in school. I am a proud mother and nobody loves my child more than me. It is not true at all that am neglecting my son, I love him. I got pregnant for a boy who promised to marry me while in 200 levels at the University of Ibadan, but he later denied it. I went home with the pregnancy and my mother sent me out of the house that I should take the pregnancy to the boy.

    “I took the pregnancy to Ukgiwe, Imo state, to stay with the boy’s parents for one year, where I gave birth to the boy (Chibuike). When he was six months old, I came back to stay with my Mum, because I was tired of staying in the village. I started doing jobs and I was able to save for my UTME form which I took and my name was first on the list in the English Department, Nassarawa State University,” she explained.

    While sobbing, with tears rolling down her face uncontrollably, the seven-month old pregnant Mrs Okorie disclosed: “I took him to class back then in the University, where everyone knew me and my son. I came out the best in my Department. For someone to tell me am ashamed of my son is not true at all”.

    She also revealed that when she was redeployed to Imo state from Jigawa State for her NYSC, she registered her son in Bright Way International School, Keffi, but had to take him out in the first term due to high fees which she could not afford, and “my husband was not finding things easy.”

    Mrs. Okorie had no reply when the Gender Director sought to know why she did not take the son to a public school which was affordable, instead of keeping him out of school for two terms.

    It was gathered that Chubuike Alexander Unegbu is a step son to Chinasa Okwu Okoie.

    In a related development, an abandoned five-year old child  who gave his name as Sheriff Ibrahim, was rescued and kept in the same Lubge Police Station.

    According to the police, Ibrahim was taken to the station by a roadside roasted meat seller, popularly known as maisuya, who explained that his mother bought N200 suya at his stand last week Sunday, promised to be back soon to pick him up but she never turned up.

    Anyone with information on how to reunite Sheriff Ibrahim with his parents should contact the DPO, Lugbe Police Station, Tunde K. Osuman on 08036017227 or 08056596330

  • ‘Build peaceful homes’

    Parents have been charged to create peaceful homes for their children as any environment where parents are in conflict will hinder the learning process of their offsprings.

    Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Lola Akande, gave the advice at the Karis School nineth Graduation in Magodo, Lagos.

    Dr Akande said many children’s education were in jeopardy because their homes were a war zone.

    She said the government was doing all it could to ensure healthy growth and development of all children in the state.

    “To this end, the state government has put in place many measures to protect the rights of every child in the state – the yellow card to warn child’s rights violators of the consequences and to deter offenders from committing such crimes and the red card which is also available and given at every prosecution stage”, she warned.

    Dr Akande also spoke on the importance of parental involvement in education, saying it had positive effects on children’s learning ability.

    While she said mothers play the largest role in a child’s education, she however said children needed the support of both parents to reach their academic potential.

    “As we all know, a father’s involvement in his child’s education leads to more learning, healthier and better performance in school. In addition, students whose fathers play active role in their education typically enjoy schooling better; they have more positive peer relationship and become responsible adults,” she said.

    Addressing the pupils, the commissioner advised them to take their education seriously as education is the key to success in life.

    Speaking on the school’s goals for the next academic session,  its Executive Director, Mrs Nolly Nwaje, said the school would introduce inquiry-based and project-based style of teaching to enhance the problem solving skills of the children.

  • Be your ward’s best friend, parents advised

    Parents have been advice to establish good relationships with their wards to check child abuse in the society.

    Mrs Jibola Akinyosoye, a parent, spoke as guest speaker at the send off for Primary Six pupils of Cardinal Nursery and Primary School, Isheri.

    She said some parents’ inability to relate effectively with their wards made the children fall victim to child abuse because they did not know what to do.

    She condemned parents, especially mothers’, sentiments on sex education to their wards.

    She said it was ideal to establish a mother/child relationship from their tender age to build trust, confidence and connect with them in an age-appropriate way.

    “Some of us (parents) see our children especially below the age of 18 or 16, too young to discuss certain issues with. Many parents especially mothers make a huge mistake at this stage. Let your child be your friend. Even from a young age, open up conversations with them. Listen to them when they want to talk, do not shut them up; let them tell you want happened in school and at home. In other words let them find companion in you. Don’t wait till they are teenagers, let it start right from the toddler stage.

    “Starting at an early age, usually around age four, many children will ask where they came from, that is, ‘where do babies come from’? Many parents may put off these types of question with the hope that their child would forget about it and the parents feel a sense of relief in not having to answer. In actual fact, the parents are making a mistake in not answering, thus unknowingly creating a communication block”.

    Akinyosoye, who spoke on the theme, “My child my best friend”, explained that the teens and young adults are the hardest for parents to talk  to about sex education. She advised that it was vital to understand that the child at some stage would experience sexual feelings. Therefore, they need to know.

    “Teens find it difficult to talk with their parents about sex because of embarrassment – the fact that their parents may not understand them or the belief that their parents will assume that they are already sexually active. Parents must understand that a lot of information children receive on sex is from friends or the media. For this reason, a parent must know that the lesser the information they give their child, the more the misinformation their child will acquire” she added.

    Another speaker, Prof Simeon Dosunmu of the Faculty of Education, Lagos State University (LASU), advised the graduands not to engage in activities that could terminate their dreams of being successful in life.

    He urged them to be persistent, disciplined and honest, manage their time, acquire knowledge beyond the classroom and love one another to achieve their goals in life.

    The school’s Proprietress, Mrs Nkechi Ohakawa, urged the graduands to put more efforts into their academic pursuits and exhibit the values they acquired from the school.

  • Igbonla kidnap: It has been 65 days of trauma – Parents

    Parents of the six kidnapped students of the Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe, were hugely relieved at the weekend when they were reunited with their children, after more than two months of anxiety.

    The reunion came exactly 65 days after the students were captured from their school by armed abductors, 20 of whom were killed in a gun duel with the police on Friday, in the creeks of Ondo State.

    The freed boys are Peter Jonah, Isiaka Rahmon, Adebayo George, Judah Agbausi, Pelumi Philips and Farouq Yusuf.

    Mr. Moruf Ramon, whose 19-year-old son, Isiaka, was among the rescued students, commended the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police for their efforts.

    “‘I am so happy with what is happening today and I want to appreciate the Lagos State Government and the Commissioner of Police for all they have done to secure the release of our children.

    “‘I have been the one talking with the kidnappers all the time and the police were always with us to get information that could help to facilitate the rescue operations.

    “We pray that this kind of incident will not occur again in Lagos State or even Nigeria as a whole,” he said.

    Mrs Beatrice Jonah said it had been a traumatic experience for her family.

    According to her, the experience is very difficult to describe as it is better imagined than experienced.

    “When I spoke to my son after the abduction, I was weeping because I was afraid for his life.

    “To me it has been 65 days of trauma but we thank God he is back safely,” she said.

    The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule, who received the students on behalf of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode, commended the efforts of the security agencies and the intervention of the federal government.

    “We commend the efforts of the Nigerian Police, particularly, the Lagos Command and other security agencies for their efforts in ensuring the safe return of these children.

    “We commend the Ondo State Governor and his deputy for their support and collaboration toward the rescue operation.

    “We appreciate the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, for his invaluable intervention in ensuring that we have these children brought back to us,” she said.

    Adebule said that debriefing and comprehensive medical checks would be carried out on the students to help them get over the experience.

    “‘Now that the children are back, the government will commence a comprehensive check up on these children – physically, mentally and psychologically. This is very necessary.

    “And in debriefing them, we will be involving other stakeholders, including their parents to ensure that it is effective.

    “‘We appreciate that 64 days was a long time to get these children back but it was in the interest of their safety,” she said.

    “As a government, we will continue to work diligently to ensure the security of lives and property in the state. It is a must for us to deliver on the issue of security.

    “As for security in our schools, we are working and putting all necessary measures in place before the resumption of schools for the next session,” she said.

    Adebule also commended the parents and families of the students for their confidence in the state government.

    Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo, who accompanied the students to Lagos with his deputy, Mr Alfred Agboola, said the Igbonla kidnap was a major

    issue at the National Executive Council meeting in Abuja in June.

    Akeredolu said it was also an issue at the South-West Governors’ meeting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where Ambode said there was the need for an increased joint security patrol of the riverine areas.

    “We must appreciate the role of the Acting President in this matter because he was the first person that contacted us in Ondo last month. Gov. Ambode was also in touch all the time.

    “We promised them that we will make efforts, but then we did not believe that these children could be in the creeks of Ondo.

    “My Deputy, however, waded into the matter because he is from the creeks. In collaboration with the Delta Government, the Navy, Army and Marine Police, we did all that was humanly possible to secure the release of the students,” he said.

    Akeredolu pledged to ensure increased security in his state in collaboration with others that shared borders with Ondo.

    “Ondo State has zero tolerance for crime. You cannot use our creeks as safe haven for crimes anymore,” he warned.

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, commended the South-West government for their joint efforts and support in ensuring the rescue of the students.

    “This is one operation that will send fear to criminals as they will know that our governments in the South-West are committed to security and there will be no place for criminals in the region.

    “During the course of the operation, 20 of the kidnappers, including the leader of that kidnap gang, Bright Adeniyi, were killed when they ambushed the operatives of the marine police and civilian volunteers.

    “We lost a civilian volunteer, while four were wounded. Eight policemen were also injured and all these people are receiving medical treatment under the care of the state government.

    “So far, we have arrested one suspect who has been swindling the parents of the children. He was arrested in Abeokuta when he asked the parents to drop some money. I’m sure others will be arrested soon and they will face the full wrath of the law,” he said.

    Owoseni promised that the police would not relent in its efforts to secure and protect the lives of citizens.

     

  • Don to parents: prioritise education

    A professor of Adult Education at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Cecillia Oladapo, has counseled parents to make their wards’ education a priority.

    The Head of Department of Adult Education said that parents who invest their resources in the education of their children would yield immeasurable rewards in the future.

    The don spoke at the graduation of Matmonique Nursery and Primary School in Egbe-Idimu, Lagos.

    She said some parents would not pay the school fees of their children, but would readily spend huge resources on needless material properties.

    Prof Oladapo said education should be a priority of any family, but noted that parents should not expect immediate benefit from such investment.

    She said: “There is no amount too much to spend on children education. Parents must know that there is no guarantee for immediate profit from this investment. The benefits are for the future. Some parents prefer to spend money on Aso Ebi (clothes) and big cars, rather than paying the fees to keep their children in school. A huge loss awaits any parent who prioritises material wellbeing over children education.”

    She urged parents not to waiver in inculcating good values in their children, saying the efforts would help their wards achieve their future goals.

    The academic also admonished parents to reward their children when they excel in their academics.

    “When children put up good performance in school, parents have duty to reward them. Doing this would prepare the minds of children psychologically to do better in their studies. Parents must create time to listen to their children and attend to their needs. Whatever they become in future would show the foundation they had as children,” she said.

    Advising parents not to force careers on their children, The Nation’s CAMPUSLIFE coordinator, Wale Ajetunmobi, said children should have free will to choose any discipline and vocation they desire.

    The school proprietress, Mrs Monisola Ilori, said the school was established to raise the bar of quality in basic school. Being a certified Early Childhood Education expert, Mrs Ilori said she was disturbed by decline in standards of basic education, adding that the foundation was key in raising brilliant children.

    She said: “In education, we say a child is the father of the man. Whatever values you want to inculcate in children would be perfectly done between the age of zero and six. After this period, it is difficult to change that attitude. When children have good foundation in education, they grow to cherish the value of knowledge and dream of good future.”

    The highpoint was an interactive session, during which some parents gave testimonies of how the school turned their children around. Pupils who showed brilliant performance in academic and extramural activities were rewarded with prizes to encourage them in doing better.