Lagos deputy gov calls for new parenting approaches

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Hamzat, has, amid new global dynamics, urged for a shift in parenting approaches, particularly among mothers, to better nurture their children for a society that is filled with morals and values.

The deputy governor made the call at the 5th Annual Ramadan Lecture/Prayer in memory of Late Oba Muftau Olatunji Hamzat, noting that morals and values remained the bedrock of humanity, forming the foundation for ethical decision-making, social cohesion and the pursuit of a just and equitable society.

Hamzat stressed the importance of adopting new tactics to effectively guide and support children in the right way to go in today’s world, noting that the roles of women needed to be well emphasized being the major players in shaping their children and also the society. 

“We all know the impact of Mother in our lives. We, as parents, need to strengthen our children with the correct values and change the tactics we are using in training them.

“Besides, we must also appreciate our women more. We need to understand that we can’t build an ideal world without a wonderful mother,” the deputy governor said.

Hamzat argued that the crucial role parents play in shaping their children’s values and worldviews cannot be overemphasised, urging them to instill the correct values in their children, and enabling them to understand the essence of life.

Speaking on the influence and essence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Lagos number two citizen, emphasised the new dynamics in the technology, as an instrument of chilling life changes never witnessed in the world, noting that sciences are moving and that clerics, both Christians and Muslims, cannot be static in their message to the adherents of their faith.

“New technology has come. We are already there. So in a situation where as a human being, I can live my life without interacting with fellow human beings is a dangerous development. 

“The question is how do we as Muslims or as Christians understand this new technology? How do we know how it affects our lives? And how do we take it? How do we deal with it, without losing our spirituality; without losing our religion? So how do we make sure that our communication on the spiritual or religious level is not static when the world is actually moving? This is a big challenge,” he said.

President, Ifako-Ijaye Muslim Community, Alhaji Abdul-Lateef Ayodeji Sunmonu, in his welcome address, said the gathering was not only a moment of spiritual enrichment but also an opportunity to reflect on the life and legacy of a remarkable man, the Late Oba Muftau Olatunji Hamzat, whose unwavering dedication to Islam, grassroots development, and national progress remained evergreen in everyone’s heart.

“This event holds profound significance for our community, as it allows us to reaffirm our commitment to the teachings and values of Islam while also celebrating the remarkable achievements that have strengthened our Muslim community in Ifako-Ijaye,” he said.

Alhaji Sunmonu, while reflecting on the period of Ramadan, urged Muslims to renew their consciousness in Allah in order to ensure achievement of “our collective dream of building a prosperous and spiritually uplifting Muslim community.

He, therefore, commended the Hamzat family for their continuous commitment to preserving the noble legacy of their father and prayed that Allah blesses and elevates the late king’s offsprings and grants him Al-Jannatul Firdaus.

In his lecture, titled: “The Ideal Home,” Alhaji Fadilatu Ustaz AbdulFaitia, noted that parents needed to be responsible in fulfilling their duties towards their children and also have to be a positive impact on them to create a society that is filled with good morals.

“As parents, we have a critical responsibility towards our children. Fathers have their own responsibilities, mothers have their own responsibilities and even our governments have a lot of responsibilities towards the citizens. 

“By fulfilling all these responsibilities, we can all help shape a society characterized by strong moral values and principles,” he said.

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