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PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY:

THE CORNERSTONE FOR BUILDING
PATRIOTIC NIGERIANS.

- ENEH LOPEZ UGOCHUKWU

INTRODUCTION modern world. It is crucial for parents to
understand the importance of striking
n the context of Nigeria, the influence of parents on a balance between discipline and
shaping future generations is crucial in addressing the nurturing, fostering a supportive
Icountry's challenges. Parents play a vital role in environment that encourages open
instilling values, ethics, and education in their children, communication and understanding
which directly impacts the overall development of the (Kenny 1)
nation. By recognizing this influence and promoting
responsible parenting, we can work towards addressing Children of this Gen-Z era, as they love
societal issues and creating a positive change for Nigeria's to be called, need to be followed with
future. In addition, understanding the global plight that an appropriate amount of love (not too
Nigeria faces can help us identify specific areas where much and not too little).It can however
parental influence can make a significant difference in be challenging to navigate the
overcoming challenges and improving the overall complex world of friendships and
condition of the country. ensure that your child is surrounded by
positive influences. As a parent, it is
PARENTAL IRRESPONSIBILITY AND THE NIGERIAN crucial to establish open lines of
SITUATION communication with your child so they
feel comfortable discussing their
Parental responsibility is concerned with the care and friendships and seeking guidance
upbringing of a child until they grow up. Parental when needed. By actively engaging in
irresponsibility, therefore, is being unconcerned about the their social lives and helping them
care and upbringing of a child. In truth, parental make informed decisions, you can play
irresponsibility is a key factor contributing to the a significant role in shaping their peer
challenges and worsening conditions in Nigeria (Saigel 12). relationships. Children often turn to

An article appeared on The Punch newspaper, portraying their peers for support and advice
the speech of the Police Public Relations Officer of Ogun when parents are not available or fail to
State DSP Abimbola Oyeyeme on the day of symposium provide proper guidance but here’s the
on security held in Abeokuta, therein he made the thing; peers might not always have the
declaration that Parental neglect is an increasing factor of best expertise or interests at heart. That
Crimes in the country. He said, “Parents are no longer is why it is crucial for parents to be
guiding their children. Our parents nowadays are after present in their children’s lives and
what they want to get in the business, once they go to m a i n t a i n o p e n c h a n n e l s o f
work, they come back late in the night. If we continue to lay communication. By being proactive,
more emphasis on material wealth, crimes would parents can guide their children
continue to grow. We have untrained children in our towards good role models and protect
culture today who are producing another generation of them from negative peer pressure.
untrained children. What do we expect when a youngster E F F E C T S O F P A R E N T A L
becomes pregnant? And that’s where we are going IRRESPONSIBILITY
wrong—their parents would abandon them to take care of
themselves.”Over 70% of individuals involved in armed Neglect (even emotionally) and
robbery and internet fraud therefore come from homes Abandonment in the form of Freedom:
where parental neglect and abandonment are prevalent parents guilty of this leave their
(Olatunji). children vulnerable to various
challenges. This can lead to increased
It was Thomas Aquinas in his work De Ente et Essentia rates of involvement in criminal
(Being and Essence) who said a small mistake at the activities (theft, armed robberies,
beginning will definitely be a huge one at the end. I will internet fraud, even ritual killing, and so
definitely say this is exactly the state of our country, on).
Nigeria. In today's society, parents need to adapt their
parenting styles to the changing times. The traditional 1. Inadequate Healthcare: Some
approach of being strict and demanding may not be as parents neglect their children’s
effective in shaping the behaviour of children in our healthcare needs, like not seeking