Parents and guardians have been charged to be more alive to their responsibility of proper upbringing of children/wards.
The Founder of Holy Trinity Authority Prophetic Church International, Ikere road, Ado-Ekiti, Prophet James Omitade gave the charge while speaking with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti.
Omitade explained that increase in criminal activities, lawlessness and societal ills are reflection of faulty families which is the first agent of socialization.
“The nucleus of a great nation begins with the family, consequently, the family serves as the blueprint that reproduces the society, town, nation, and country. As the smallest, yet most vital unit of social development, the family plays a pivotal role in the nation’s social structure. It is the epicenter from which societal values emanate”.
“What behavior do youths exhibit today?regrettably, numerous families have abdicated their responsibilities, affecting generations to come”.
The Cleric who quoted Proverbs chapter 22, verse 6 said the verse emphasizes the need to train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
“A family is akin to God’s ordained computer; the output is directly related to the input. What then is the nature of families currently existing in the society and by extension, the nation-state? Unfortunately, many homes are characterized by lack of moral guidance, indiscipline, and incontinence, describing the shortcomings as the bane of the country’s quest for responsible citizenship.
“How many youths have learned to differentiate between good and bad? The prevalent moral decadence hinders the government’s efforts to achieve its objectives, including law and order, peace, justice, economic growth, and development”.
According Omitade, Nigeria in particular struggles to maintain a positive image due to the questionable behavior of its youths worldwide. Nigerians are disproportionately represented among prisoners in the Middle East and other regions.
He stated that the aftermath of their actions has far-reaching consequences, affecting not only their home country but also other nations.
“Many of these offenders likely originated from homes where parents acted with impunity and disregard for the law. The resulting low life expectancy is often a consequence of criminal behavior.
How many homes still foster a nurturing environment? The proliferation of divorced, separated parents, assault, battery, and alcoholism has reduced many homes to mere physical structures”.
Prophet James Omitade therefore reminded parents not to shirk in playing their roles as expected, saying what they produce will have either positive or negative impact on the society in general.
“It is imperative for Christians, at the very least, to reassess their homes and reclaim the responsibilities they have inadvertently shifted to churches, schools, and the government”.
