Stakeholders have stressed the critical need to establish a comprehensive parenting policy in Nigeria.
At a multi-stakeholder workshop on parenting programmes in Nigeria, supported by Parenting For Life Long Health & Global Parenting Initiative, University of Oxford, held in Abuja, Dr. Isang Awah, Head of Advocacy for the Global Parenting Initiative, emphasized the urgent necessity for such a policy.
Dr Awah highlighted the importance of decisive action in formulation and timing, emphasizing collaboration between key entities such as the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Women Affairs as indispensable.
She underscored the pivotal role of collaboration among ministries and stakeholders in crafting this policy and expressed enthusiastic support from the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in facilitating the creation and execution of this essential policy.
“It is imperative for ministries and federal agencies to coordinate with implementers to effectively implement interventions, leveraging existing infrastructure,” Awah stated.
She however, use the Ministry of Health’s ongoing service delivery in rural communities as an example of an opportunity to integrate parenting programs.
Furthermore, she emphasized the need for ministries and federal agencies to coordinate with implementers to ensure effective intervention implementation, leveraging existing infrastructure.
Moreover, Dr. Awah illustrated the significance of integrating parenting programs into existing initiatives, citing the Ministry of Health’s rural service delivery as a prime opportunity.
This, she argued, underscores the importance of mainstreaming the parenting policy initiative across various ministries and agencies.
Dr Awah highlighted the impact of economic decline, conflict, and natural disasters on families, leading to negative coping mechanisms such as child labor, reduced nutrition, and child marriage. The presentation emphasized the critical role of parenting in child development and advocated for support for families affected by humanitarian crises.
In essence, the Global Parenting Initiative advocates for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to develop and implement a comprehensive parenting policy, recognizing its vital role in enhancing child welfare and family well-being on a national scale.
Similarly, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-onilu, stated that NOA plans to establish Citizens Brigades in primary and secondary schools across Nigeria with the aim of promoting relevant core values to address societal ills.
Issa-onilu outlined an ambitious plan involving the establishment of 1000 Citizens Brigades per state in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), totaling 37,000 brigades nationwide.
“These brigades will serve as platforms for promoting the principles of the National Values Charter, encompassing the promises and commitments that Nigeria makes to its citizens, as well as the reciprocal responsibilities citizens owe to their country and fellow compatriots,” he explained.
NOA officials emphasized the importance of familiarizing children with national values from their formative years, aiming to integrate these values into the school curriculum from primary to tertiary levels to cultivate a generation of conscientious youth.
Furthermore, the advocacy on the National Values Charter underscores the significance of responsible parenting in shaping the values and attitudes of children.
By engaging parents and guardians in promoting these values within the family unit, the NOA seeks to reinforce the message of civic responsibility and ethical conduct across all spheres of society.
As Nigeria strives to build a cohesive and prosperous nation, initiatives like the establishment of Citizens Brigades play a vital role in nurturing a values-conscious citizenry. With the NOA’s steadfast commitment to this cause, the future holds promise for a generation of Nigerian youth deeply rooted in the principles of national unity, integrity, and patriotism.
In her remarks, the Director Content Development of the University of Oxford, Dr. Jenny Doubt commended the organisers for pushing a national policy on parenting which she said will help in restoring good values and better orientation in children and youths.
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