National Association of Seadogs, popularly known as Pyrates’ Confraternity, Katamaran Deck, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, has organised a public lecture to mark this year’s anniversary of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election won by late Chief MKO Abiola.
Delivering the public lecture with the theme: “Combating 21st Century Challenges in Parenting,” at the BAJ Park in Ijebu-Ode, on Sunday, a Psychologist/Senior Lecturer at the Lagos State University of Education, Epe Campus, Dr Shade Vivian Adeyemi, who was the Guest Lecturer, stated that parenting had become a very big challenge in the 21st century across the world.
Adeyemi expressed regrets that married couples of today merely pay all their attention to having children without considering and planning ahead for the expected challenges.
This development, she stated, has resulted in the existence of a large and growing population of parents with very limited child management skills, creating an equally huge population of children now exhibiting various developmental challenges detrimental to them and the entire society.
According to her, the current trend in developmental challenges necessitates an emphasis on addressing issues affecting parenting in the 21st Century.
The university don said, “Parenting has become a challenging situation in the 21st century worldwide. Married couples tend to focus more on bringing a baby to the world than planning and considering the associated challenges of parenting.
“That results in increasing number of parents with limited understanding, patience, resilience and skills in child management, which is evident in the prevalent numbers of children with developmental challenges ranging from low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and attempts, addiction, delinquency and crime.
“The trend in childhood development challenges has made it germane to focus on combating 21st century challenges in parenting.”
Continuing, Adeyemi added, “The above conversations promote bonding between the child and the parents. They build confidence, a sense of acceptance and love.
“These in turn help in enhancing a child’s self-esteem and worth, which are factors that influence the development of their socio-psychological well-being.”
The lecturer further argued that combating the challenges of parenting was not an easy task, adding that the resilience to see it done usually leads to worthwhile results.
Adeyemi noted that there were no specific, definitive and hard and fast rules about parenting.
She said individual situation demands a unique and appropriate parenting skills, which every parent must develop to tackle their child’s specific situation.
She stated, “As they say, no one size fits all. Same applies in parenting, especially since we’re all unique beings with different values, likes and dislikes.
“Notwithstanding, proper understanding of parenting challenges and preparedness towards managing it is the best way to combat it.”
The President of the Pyrates’ Confraternity in Ijebu-Ode and Host of the lecture, Mr Olumide Fagbohunka, in his speech on the occasion, advised parents to learn from and apply the lessons of the lecture in delivering proper and effective parenting to their children in order to build better and responsible future citizens of the country.
Fagbohunka used the opportunity to distance the Pyrates’ Confraternity from the various violent and killer cult groups existing on the campuses of higher institutions across the country.
He stressed that Pyrates’ Confraternity is not for criminals and cultists.
The Vice President of the Pyrates’ Confraternity in Ijebu-Ode, Mr Olugbenga Payne, thanked all attendees at the lecture.
He explained that the Pyrates’ Confraternity, which was founded about 70 years ago at the University of Ibadan, has prominent people as members across the world engaging in philanthropy and advocacy in different aspects of life, including healthcare, education, good governance, combating crime and cultism and others.
He said, “These past 70 years, our Confraternity has continued to donate to charity organisations, orphanages, donated wheelchairs to the physically challenged persons, given scholarships because we see good education as something that everyone should have access to.
“We support good governance but not bad leadership. Citizens must enjoy dividends of democracy, that’s their rights. Our voices must be heard that our children must have a brighter future.”
