Poor parenting fueling insecurity, other vices – Cleric

The Chief Imam of Nasirul-Lahi-Li-Fatih, Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) Mosque, Utako, Abuja and founder, Ashraaf Islamic Foundation, Dr Sharafudeen Abdulsalam Aliagan, has said that poor parenting is a major factor fueling insurgency, banditry and other forms of social vices in the country.

He said this at the 7th Annual Maolidu Nnabiy lecture series 2024 of the foundation on Sunday in Abuja with the theme, ‘Parenting and Child Education in Nigeria: Appraising the Plight of Orphans and Vulnerable Children’.

“Boko Haram insurgency, pocket picking in the society, abduction, homosexuality and other vices that we have that are giving us barbaric nature and a kind of imbalance condition of environment are as a result of poor parenting,” Sheikh Aliagan said.

Other speakers and experts called for a renewed focus on strengthening family structures, providing support for orphans and vulnerable children, and ensuring access to quality education for all, saying the future of Nigeria depends on addressing this pressing crisis in parenting and child welfare.

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Dr Abdullahi Adam, Director of Programme at Ashraaf Islamic Foundation, said the alarming statistics revealed Nigeria’s dangerous crisis in parenting and child education.

He said a research by the foundation shows Nigeria is facing a staggering education and child welfare crisis with 10.2m children out of primary school, 8.1m out of junior secondary school, 17.5m children have been orphaned, 19m children displaced in the North-east region and 3,500 children serving as child-soldiers in the North-east and other conflict zones.

Adam said the theme chosen for this year’s lecture series highlights the urgent need to address these alarming trends.

He said, “We concern ourselves to serving humanity because the mandate of Prophet Muhammad pbuh is universal. It is not to a single man, Rasul (Muhammad) was sent to the entire universe.”