(News Analysis)
By Dada Ahmed.
In a world spinning rapidly on the axis of technological advancement, the moral compass of many Nigerian youths seems to be losing direction. This concern echoed powerfully at the 2025 Lecture /Award ceremony held at the NUJ Hall, Lokoja, on May 27.
At the occasion,attended by people from various strata of the society,Prof. Salisu Ogbo Usman, Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, delivered a clarion call to Nigerian parents.
The core value of his lecture reminds the audience of the popular saying that, parents who fail to rethink their roles on how to train their children in sound moral upbringing risk raising a lost generation.
The event, themed “Children: Our Future, Our Responsibility” and organized by The Nigerian Post in collaboration with the Margaret Ekpo Biographical Centre, was more than just an award ceremony, it was a mirror held up to Nigerian society.
Prof. Ogbo, an erudite Professor of Political Science, lamented the crumbling walls of morality among today’s youths and pointed squarely to the root of the problem: the home.
According to him, many parents have abdicated their basic primary responsibility of moral instruction in preference for chasing material success and instead,encouraging shortcuts to wealth. The “Get-rich-quick” syndrome, he observed, has become a festering sore infecting young minds, often with the silent approval or complicity of their parents.
But the problem, he noted, is deeper than financial indulgence. “Technology and social media, while transformative, have also become open doors to harmful content, prominent of which is the Yahoo Yahoo business. Parents must become digital gatekeepers, not just observers, he said. With the average Nigerian child now wielding a smartphone before understanding the national anthem, guidance has never been more essential.
So how can Nigerian parents raise morally sound children in this era of digital noise and economic uncertainty?
Prof. Ogbo’s speech offered a roadmap. First, parents must lead by example. Children learn more from what they observe than what they are told. A child who watches a father offer bribes or cheat the system grows up thinking integrity is a burden, not a virtue. “If a man retires after 35 years of honest service and still struggles for his pension, what message does that send about honesty?” Prof. Ogbo questioned poignantly.
Second, values must be prioritized above status. Parents are urged to encourage children not for their social prestige, but for their economic value and potential. “All courses are important,” he emphasized, “but what matters most is that they should equip youths with entrepreneurial skills, creativity, and character.
Third, spiritual institutions must return to their moral roots. “We need less emphasis on prosperity preaching and more on preaching honesty, integrity, and accountability,” Prof. Ogbo said. Put succinctly, faith-based organizations must not just cater to the spirit but also mold the conscience,he stressed.
Moreover, peer influence, which shapes much of a child’s worldview, must be guided rather than ignored. Prof. Ogbo called on parents to remain actively involved in their children’s social lives, asking questions and offering alternatives rooted in family values.
Interestingly, his message resonated more powerfully because of the context of the occasion. The event can be described as a honor to Chief Margaret Ekpo, a towering figure in Nigeria’s fight for independence and women’s rights and an embodiment of morality.Born in 1914 in Calabar, Ekpo broke cultural barriers by becoming not just an activist but also a role model for political and social integrity.
Educated in Nigeria and later in England, Margaret Ekpo returned to Nigeria with a fire ignited by global injustice and local complacency.
She joined forces with other nationalists to challenge colonial rule and champion women’s participation in politics. Her courage was not just in marching, but in mentoring,showing that raising a child with purpose can shape a nation’s destiny.
Invited guests at the occasion, mostly parents, left the venue of the event with the firm belief that, Ekpo’s legacy represents a glaring reminder of the imperative of investing in values of the children which is as important as investing in school fees. This is because Ekpo’s life stands as a beacon that moral conviction, not money, built leaders.
A memorable moment during the ceremony came when young Testimony Torere delivered an impressive, offhand recitation of the Child’s Rights Act,a scene that drew thunderous applause from the thrilled audience.In recognition of Testimony’s awesome performance,Prof. Ogbo awarded him a ₦100,000 scholarship. This act, simple yet profound, signaled hope, that amid the decay, seeds of morality and excellence still exist in Nigeria as exemplified by Testimony.
The event came to an end with awards to notable figures like Alhaji Suleiman Ibrahim, Pastor Roseline Alaba, Coach Gabriel Obinu, and Prof. Ogbo himself in recognition of their contributions to the advancement of humanity.
However,the real takeaway from the occasion, which coincided with colourful Children’s day celebration in Lokoja, was the collective call that, Nigeria must rebuild its moral foundation, beginning from the home.
There is no doubt that if parents fail to raise children with cherished values, they will build prisons instead of schools. Prof.Ogbo”s message, rich with wisdom, intellectual acumen and urgency, leaves no room for complacency.
Indeed,Nigerian parents must act,not tomorrow, but now if they must raise not just successful, but morally upright future leaders.
Ahmed publishes The Reporters
ahmeddada008@gmail.com
