The United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF), has harped on proper upbringing of children as vital for the next generation.
Mrs Aderonke Akinola-Akinwole, UNICEF Lagos Field Office, gave the charge in Ibadan on Monday while addressing leaders of the Women’s Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN), during their 2023 State Annual Convention.
Akinola-Akinwole also a social and behavioral communication specialist, said the future of any society is directly proportional to how children are raised.
“Children belong to a significant and vulnerable group, this makes it essential for adults and institutions to be concerned about their caring and protection.
“The first 1,000 days of a child remain a window of opportunity to invest in a child’s physical, mental and social well-being, which will positively affect the child’s future,” she said.
The social and behavioral communication specialist called on parents, care-givers and other relevant stakeholders to know and perform their roles effectively in the upbringing of children.
She charged Christian women to use their faith, characters networks and influence “to promote child survival and development in the children’s first 1,000 days of their life.
“This engagement aims to sensitize WOWICAN leaders across 33 local government areas in Oyo state on the first 1,000 days of a child and how their influence can promote the uptake of critical behaviors.”
She advocated for regular engagement and capacity-building with the WOMICAN members “to enable them “to fully understand and perform this role effectively.”
She encouraged them to be ambassadors of mobilization, modeling and mentoring of women in their respective local government areas.
In her remarks, the Chairperson of WOWICAN, Mrs Amachei Obi, commended the UNICEF team for the sensitization.
Obi assured the team that WOWICAN would continue to carry out awareness campaigns across the state in encouraging women on the need to nurture and groom children in proper ways.
