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By Dada Ahmed, Lokoja.
The Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, Prof. Salisu Ogbo Usman, has expressed concern over the declining moral standards among Nigerian youths, attributing the trend to the failure of many parents to instill core values in their children.
Prof. Usman made these remarks on Tuesday at the 2025 Humanitarian Award ceremony, organized by The Nigerian Post in collaboration with the Margaret Ekpo Biographical Centre, Calabar.
The event, held at the NUJ Hall in Lokoja, was themed: “Children: Our Future, Our Responsibility.”
In a scathing critique, the Professor of Political Science decried the “Get-rich-quick” mindset that has permeated Nigerian youth culture, lamenting that many parents not only condone but also benefit from their children’s morally questionable pursuits.
He noted that while the advent of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the explosion of social media have brought about numerous opportunities, they have also exposed young people to harmful content. Unfortunately, many parents, he said, fail to monitor or guide their children’s digital engagement.
Prof. Usman emphasized that peer influence plays a crucial role in shaping the values and behaviors of children, and therefore should not be taken lightly by parents and guardians.
“Many parents struggle with poverty,” he observed, “but if they live within their means, focus on their immediate environment, and model good behavior, they can still raise morally sound children who can rise above their circumstances.”
He also called on religious leaders to shift focus from prosperity preaching to moral rebirth.
“Instead of emphasizing wealth and miracles, let us teach about honesty, integrity, and responsibility,” he urged. “That way, we can leave behind a better society than the one we inherited.”
Prof. Usman advised parents to help their children choose academic programmes in higher institutions not just based on prestige, but on employability and entrepreneurial potential.
“Every programme is important,” he said, “but more important is equipping students with entrepreneurial skills so they can become employers of labor upon graduation.”
He also stressed the importance of leading by example.
“A child watching their father struggle to receive a pension after years of honest service may question the value of integrity,” he warned. “What message does that send to the next generation?”
He added that government must also play its part by creating a just society where hard work and integrity are rewarded.
At the event, Prof. Usman donated a laptop to the organizers and praised The Nigerian Post for the opportunity to speak on such a vital issue.
The Nigerian Post Publisher, Mike Abu, and other speakers echoed the call for sound moral upbringing of their children and the urgent need to curb moral decay in the country.
Highlights of the event include the presentation of awards to individuals who have made meaningful contributions to the welfare of vulnerable groups and society at large.
A touching moment came when young Testimony Turere wowed the audience with a flawless, offhand recitation of the Child Rights Act. Impressed, Prof. Usman announced a N100,000 scholarship to support his education.
Awardees include.Alhaji Suleiman Ibrahim, Director-General, Protocol, the Government House, Lokoja; Pastor Roseline Alaba; Coach Gabriel Ibinu; and Prof. Usman himself, among others.
The ceremony also celebrated the legacy of Chief Margaret Ekpo,a pioneering Nigerian women’s rights activist, nationalist, and politician who played a crucial role in Nigeria’s independence and the advancement of women’s rights.
Born on July 27, 1914, in Creek Town, Calabar, Ekpo was well-educated and trained as a teacher.
She later studied domestic science in Dublin, Ireland, where exposure to global movements and colonial injustices sharpened her political awareness.
Upon returning to Nigeria, she became actively involved in anti-colonial struggles and women’s political participation.
She passed away on September 21, 2006, at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Cross River State, at the age of 92.
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