. . . Charge Parents, Others to be Good Role Models
By IfeomaEzenyilimba
Two groups known as Association for Universal Moral Education Nigeria (AUMEN) and Nnadiebube Research Institute (NRI), on November 28, held their 2019 Annual National Conference, with a charge on parents, educators, formators and youths, to be good role models in their day-to-day activities.
The conference which was held at the Faculty of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, Anambra State, in partnership with the Department of Religion and Human Relations, Faculty of Arts, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, and the Department of Religion and Cultural Studies, Ignatius Aguru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, had “Moral Formation: A Paradigm for Enhancing Positive Attitudes Among Youths in Nigeria”, as its theme.
Declaring the conference open, the host, and Vice Chancellor, NAU, Professor Charles Esimone, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Professor Frederick Odibo, described moral formation, as what was necessary for the development of a responsible individual and a better society.
The National Coordinator of AUMEN, Rev Sr Dr Mary Jude-Therese Nwodo, IHM, in her address of welcome, noted that individuals and corporate institutions, as moral agents, owed society the social responsibility to drive positive moral activities and values, which, she said, would make society better for all to thrive.
Rev Sr Nwodo, who decried what she described as the spate of moral decadence which had swept across many societies, stressed the need for every individual, especially parents and teachers, to be good role models, so as to positively influence others, and make society better.
In his keynote address titled: ‘Moral Formation/Education: A Paradigm for Enhancing Positive Attitudes Among Youth”, the Registrar/Chief Executive of Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Professor Josiah Ajiboye, registered his pleasure over the conference which he said, would address the burning youths’ moral formation.
Professor Ajiboye, who was represented by the Enugu State Coordinator of TRCN and wife of the former Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Dr Nneka Ada Onyebuchi, observed that Nigeria, in spite of her rich natural and human resources, was characterized by various social vices and ills.
Ajiboye regretted that various vices such as corruption, bribery, embezzlement, misappropriation of public funds and injustice, had bedeviled Nigerian society which he described as a nation bereft of morality. According to the keynote presenter, the youths were the most affected by the vices which he described as cankerworms.
The TRCN boss attributed what he described as the disheartening level of erosion of morality in Nigeria, to the poor moral and socio-political structure and system of Nigeria society. He advocated for service learning approach, which according to him, would enable the students and other youths to become moral actors.
In her paper on “Factors Influencing Immorality of the Nigerian Youth: A Challenge to the Ministry of Defence”, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Abuja, Mrs Nuratu Batagarwa, identified the internet, parents, school, peer pressure, government and electronic media, as some of the factors that filled immorality among the youths.
She called on the parents, teachers and guardians to, as good role models, monitor their children and students, detect their wrong doings early, and promptly, nip them in the bud.
Batagarwa, who was represented by the Director of Education of the Ministry, Mrs Christiana Aneke, called on the government to design policies that would control and monitor what were released into the social media so as not to negatively influence the youths.
Also speaking at the conference, the Executive Chairman, Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Chief Patrick Ugbaja, described moral education as the pivot of every stratum of human life. He called for the need for character moulding, pointing out that it needed to be instilled in the children from the cradle stage.
Presentation of motivational awards to some distinguished individuals, paper presentations, among others, were highlights of the event, which had the Chairman, Christian, Pilgrims Welfare Board (CPWB), Anambra State, Professor Steve Ibenta, as the chairman of the occasion, and had participants from across Nigeria in attendance.
The conference coincided with the birthday of the AUMEN National Coordinator, Rev Sr Dr Mary Jude-Therese Nwodo.
