News
Int’ Day of Family: Academy Tasks Government on Improved Economy, Parenting Centres
The Discipleship Academy, a platform dedicated to raising disciples through the children, teens, and parenting academy, has expressed worry over the low income earning levels of citizens, calling on the government to provide enabling environment for families to thrive economically in order to sustain societal values.
The Director of the academy, Oluwatoyin Osagie-Oboh, made the call in Abuja during a workshop organized by the academy tagged “Digital Parenting: cyber security and online safety for families” as part of its activities to commemorate the 2023 International Families Day with theme: “Families and New Technology”.
Osagie-Oboh, who is also a certified John Maxwell Parenting and Family Coach, said that there was the need for the government to establish parenting education centers particularly in rural areas for reorientation of families, noting that due to economic hardship most kids are raising themselves in the most improper manner.
She also urged the government to create awareness and sensitization through its relevant agencies on the need to promote the positive use of technology, noting that this will create opportunities for the teeming youths to showcase their talents and grow.
She said, “The income earning level of people have really dropped, everything is going up and status is not improving, we need to pay attention to creating skills as this is affecting the family. When income drops the access to quality education drops so alot of children in the suburbs are raising themselves, the parents don’t know what to do they are not informed and we have immorality ravaging our children, don’t forget that these are the children that will be involved in policy making in the future.
“The thing about family is that we do our best with the resources that are available to us as there is no perfect parent what we have is parents who continue to improve upon the family unit and so we cannot put a figure or score-cap but what we can do is to encourage them to continue to seek out more, to improve upon your parenting knowledge.
“We encourage the government to put up family education centers in the rural areas just like we have maternity centers that can be in the language so that it can accessible, gather parents in the villages in the suburbs and give them one or two tips and reach out the children on value orientation.”
Osagie-Oboh also urged parents to make concerted effort to spend quality time with their children, place family values that will direct their children’s lives, and not only concentrate on providing material needs.
On the use of technology, she urged parents not to shut their kids out but rather empower them to making positive use because they are cyber natives, stressing that making the children understand the right from the wrong will help build them to be self-disciplined.
She said, “Your child should be able to shut down a content and say this is not for me, this is not my family value and be able to make their choices, because what we want is a technological knowledgeable child and not a novice, because then the repercussions will be that they will not be able to compete in their world.”
A parent of the Leading Light Academy, Yakachat Pada, noted that family as the smallest unit of the society is faced with numerous challenges leading to the increase in gender based violence.
She urged spouses to tolerate each other to the best of their abilities but not hesitate to leave if violence becomes too much as staying in abusive homes affects children more than being a single parent.
Another parent Mr. Charles Oboh stated the need for the inclusion of men in the parenting of children as men have a lot of role to play, saying, “Mmany people think parenting has to do with the mothers alone, men have a very big role to play in the family as the children tend to sometimes feel loose with their mothers.”
In a startling turn of events, a video has surfaced online showing a group of armed bandits conducting Eid prayers deep within the forests of Kaduna State, Nigeria.
The footage, which has sparked widespread alarm, was shared by counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama on his account on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
According to reports, the armed groups gathered in at least two distinct locations Maidaro, Sabon Birni, and East Kaduna, within the Dogon Dawa Forest.
The bandits armed with a variety of sophisticated weapons. In addition to carrying automatic rifles, the bandits were seen equipped with drones and mobile phones, suggesting an alarming level of coordination and access to technology.
Security analysts, including Makama, have expressed deep concern over the implications of this gathering. Tagging both the Nigerian Army and the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in his post, Makama emphasised the urgent need for strategic countermeasures against these criminal elements.
The National Youth Vanguard of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected allegations made by Honourable Aminu Sani Jaji, who accused the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammed Matawalle, of orchestrating claims of anti-party activities against him.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr Adeniyi Wale, described Jaji’s accusations as “baseless” and an attempt to distract from his own political manoeuvres.
“Jaji has long positioned himself as a loyal APC member and a unifying force within the party, but his actions suggest otherwise. His political moves appear more self-serving than focused on party unity,” Wale said.
The APC Vanguard emphasised that Nigerians deserve transparent and accountable leaders rather than those who, it said, manipulate public trust for personal gain. The group also questioned Jaji’s credibility, citing what it described as a pattern of inconsistency in his political engagements.
“The remarks made by Jaji not only lack substantiation but also raise concerns about his reliability and judgment,” the statement read. “Leadership is not merely about holding a position of power; it is about demonstrating qualities that inspire trust and confidence among the people.”
The group commended Minister Matawalle for his efforts in strengthening national security and promoting peace. It said his leadership had contributed significantly to fostering unity and improving community relations across the country.
“Minister Matawalle exemplifies the qualities of effective leadership. Under his stewardship, significant progress has been made in enhancing national security and community relations,” the statement said.
The APC Vanguard further criticised Jaji’s leadership approach, accusing him of lacking the foresight and responsibility required for credible governance.
“This pattern of inconsistency not only weakens the integrity of his decisions but also erodes the confidence of party members and stakeholders who seek dependable representation,” Wale added.
The group reaffirmed its support for Matawalle and urged APC members to remain focused on unity and national progress while rejecting divisive rhetoric that could undermine the party’s strength.
News
Two brothers Launch Sardaunan Ikulu Fans Foundation, Sponsor WAEC Registration For 50 vulnerable Students
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
In a significant effort to promote education, two brothers have launched the Sardaunan Ikulu Fans Foundation, sponsoring the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) registration for 50 vulnerable students in Kamaru Ikulu Ward, Zango-Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Speaking at the launch on Tuesday, Yusuf Ismail Ashafa, popularly known as Sardaunan Ikulu, urged the beneficiaries to remain dedicated to their studies and strive for academic excellence. He assured them that the foundation would continue to support outstanding students by facilitating their admission into higher institutions.
Ashafa also called on parents to play an active role in motivating their children to focus on education, emphasizing that their success would contribute to a brighter future for the community.
Meanwhile, Ashafa, who played a crucial role in the emergence of Engr. Bege Gaiya Joseph as the Executive Chairman of Zango-Kataf Local Government Area, expressed deep appreciation for Joseph and his brother, Reuben Richman Bissla, for sponsoring the students’ WAEC registration in his honor.
He pledged to build on these efforts, ensuring continued support for students’ education as a means of fostering societal development.
In his remarks, the co-sponsor, Engr. Joseph Bege Gaiya, popularly known as Lordbeckson, disclosed that the initiative was aimed at improving the education of the most vulnerable students for the betterment of society.
“I am one of the beneficiaries of the goodwill of Sardaunan Ikulu. If he had wanted to become the Council Chairman, he would have been, but he decided to push me forward, and today I am the Council Chairman through his mentorship,” he stated.
He urged the beneficiaries to consider themselves fortunate and to take full advantage of the opportunity by studying hard to achieve excellent results.
“With the establishment of the Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, we must ensure that our students pursue science courses. We cannot afford to have a Federal University in our region and yet have our children unable to gain admission to study science-related fields,” he added.
The initiative has been widely commended as a timely intervention, helping underprivileged students overcome financial barriers to education.