Let’s look at The Role of Children and Parents in Building a Nation.
To build our nation, we must build our children, but we must begin by building ourselves. A poorly trained teacher or a parent who does not read cannot offer much to a student or child. So stay tuned for anything that can help your child, our children develop.
If you keep your ears close to the media and what is happening there, you will know that our children are being abused. When I say abused I do not mean simply verbally and even that is harmful. When you start to say, ori eo pe (your head is not correct), ori eo da (your head is wrong), Chineke na k’pogi (God punishes you); this is bad and harmful for a child. All forms of abuse – verbal, sexual, emotional, psychological and physical – are perpetrated by fathers, mothers, teachers, aunts, even partners of our children’s uncles. Two children, a boy and a girl, from the same parents and a friend returned home from school and decided to watch the last video their parents saw before NEPA or PHCN took the light the night before. It turned out to be a pornographic video; sadly not only did they watch, they decided to practice.
Well-meaning parents, mentors, guardians, teachers, we must all put our hands on the deck to nurture these special gifts from God. If we fail them, we have failed God. If a child is not doing well academically or behaviorally, it adds nothing to it by abusing the child or abusing the child’s parent or even the teacher. Why not decide to take your leave or vacation during the child’s vacation so that you can personally supervise and guide the child? You are your child’s best teacher, mentor, and cheerleader. If your child is receiving an award and you are not there to cheer him on; the child may believe that winning a prize is nothing and therefore start doing it wrong.
We, as parents and guardians, have the highest interest in children and we must ensure that the issue of ensuring children’s rights and protecting children, not just their biological children but all children, in all ways abuse is of utmost importance for the future. of his family, his generation and indeed our great nation. To have peace now and in the future, you cannot afford to avoid the problem of child neglect, exploitation and abuse. We all have a role to play in curbing child abuse. Rewriting a future where children are protected from all forms of abuse begins now and our children must be able to count on us.
Dear children, every day we hear many things; hearing is different from listening. If someone says to you: “You are a fool, someone offers you all the exams in exchange for stealing your parents’ money and you say no.” Only you can play dumb. What people say about you doesn’t mold you. No one can make you feel inferior or stupid without your permission. By the time you come back to the person and say, “I’ve thought about it and I want to do what you suggested, then you have listened.” As a disciplined student, as someone who builds character for the future, you must learn to listen and not pay attention to things that do not bode well for your future.
Some irresponsible parents have been known to cheat on their children. If mom tells you: “I want you to go play with your uncle in the room so he can give us a lot of money” or dad says: “Alcohol mixed with a little marijuana will make you very daring that way you can face any girl or hit any bully “you know that’s bad advice. Should you listen or not listen? (We must not listen).
If I live with a woman who tells me every day that I have no hope or future; if she pays my school fees or feeds me, it may be impossible not to listen to her, but it is important not to listen to her. If your advice comes from Tu Pac or Obesere; gradually, your way of thinking will be similar to theirs. If your advice comes from our great singer Onyeka Onwenu, who says may there be peace in our hearts, homes, peace in our nation and in the world; then you would start to believe that peace is achievable.
Who we listen to shapes the man or woman we become. If you have a parent who prays for you and says to you every day, “You will make it, you are destined for success.” Even if you’re not doing very well in school, as you keep hearing those positive words that build esteem, you will begin to believe in your ability to do so and to try harder. Decide to listen only to what will edify you, what will motivate you, what will inspire you; listen to what life will give you. The Good Book says, I place before you this day life and death; choose the life you can live.
Children, God has blessed us with beautiful bodies that can be divided into two parts: the public and the private. As children we must be careful with those we call friends or family. If your brother’s friend says to take off your pants, let me touch your something. There is no part of the body that is called something. If he wants to touch your chest, yell and tell him that I will tell Mom and Dad that you wanted to touch my chest. But if you say, don’t touch my something, he’ll start joking; I’ll play your something Jo and when you tell mom or dad; They will say eyin omo yi sha, something and nothing. Without knowing that by something you mean your chest or even your penis, they will treat it lightly. Yes, it happens to both boys and girls. So parents, learn to speak directly, not in code, with your children. Teach them about their bodies and encourage them to open up to you.
In Nigeria, we celebrate Children’s Day, but every day is for the child because it is what we put on our children every day that transforms them into patriotic citizens and successful men and women. The articles contained in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and in the Laws on the Rights of the Child indicate that children must participate in the process of understanding their rights. It is our responsibility as parents, guardians, teachers, mentors to ensure that we teach and protect these rights.
Dear boys and girls; All the effort of everyone who is here and those who cannot here is to ensure that they represent us well and become true disciplined leaders in the future. Do you think all these people would be disappointed if your result is bad (wait for the answer)? Therefore, you must decide to make your parents or guardians, your teachers and mentors, the government, all stakeholders, especially Nigeria, proud of you. Must not be involved in abuse in any form, be it drug abuse, child-to-child abuse, sexual abuse, bullying, abuse of property; Most importantly, you must make the decision not to abuse the talents God has given you and the opportunities your parents have given you through care and education. You should take advantage of the different programs that are organized for children and young people such as the Change Makers Club, The Boys and Girls Brigade, The Willows Magazine Club, The Young Farmers Club, The Girl Guides, The Boys Scout, The Brownie that are designed for their development educational, spiritual, physical and emotional. Parents, God will bless you as you continue to love and support these children in their aspirations.
Dear Parents, Guardians, Teachers, and Mentors, let’s take seriously our responsibility to develop these young people. They are the future, I agree, but they are here now and must be fully prepared to assume their responsibilities in the future. We don’t need to wait for the special days set aside to show our love and appreciation for these special gifts that the Almighty has graciously blessed us with. They are natural resources that can be well channeled to obtain maximum national benefits. Let’s give more in terms of quantity (content) and quality (care) and I trust that our investment will not be wasted. A Yoruba adage says: “Omo ti a ko ko, lo ma gbe ile ti a ko ta. I doubt that even Yoruba children can interpret that because we have decided to relegate our culture to the background. The proverb in English literally means the child who we refuse to build would sell the house we decided to build.
Let’s edify our children and I pray that in doing so they honor parents, mentors, the school, and the nation.