Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has expressed concerns over neglect of family values, urging parents to re-examine their roles.
Hamzat made call at the 20th Justice Muri Okunola Memorial Ramadan Lecture on Sunday, at Agidingbi, Ikeja.
“As parents, how are we raising our children? The truth is that if we go by what we see, a lot of people have failed as parents.
“It is very scary, especially for this crop of generation. Let us groom and train our children to be ready for life’s challenges,” he said.
He emphasised the need for parents to take responsibility for their children’s upbringing, ensuring they would be taught the importance of family and care for one another.
He said that many children were no longer interested in caring for their aging parents and had left them vulnerable and alone.
The deputy governor implored parents to inculcate empathy and morals into their children.
Hamzat also expressed worry at the rate of abandonment of families by men, who left their wives and children to fend for themselves.
He urged fathers and husbands to be alive to their responsibilities.
Hamzat called on parents and religious leaders to take actions to address parenting crisis.
He advised religious leaders to continuously preach love, care and unity.
In a lecture entitled: “The Distress In Family Values and Morality in Our Society: A Multi-dimensional Approach”, Imam Abdulrahman Adangba urged Muslims to believe in Allah and rely on His promises.
The cleric listed some essential steps to revive societal values, emphasising the importance of truthfulness and trustworthiness.
He urged government officials not to disappoint the masses who placed their trust in them.
Adangba also urged employers of labour not to deny wages to their employees.
“Do not make pledges you cannot fulfill, reward good acts with goodness, be kind and offer support to one another,” he said.
The cleric also said the key to achieving peace and security lied in embracing responsibility and recognising that one’s rights were tied to the responsibilities of others.
He said that in societies where individuals prioritised their rights over their responsibilities, insecurity and chaos often came up.
“In contrast, societies that focus on responsibility and mutual accountability tend to enjoy greater peace and harmony.
“When we create peace for others, we ultimately ensure our own security.
“However, when we neglect this responsibility, we invite insecurity and disarray.”
