News
Cleric, Others Task Mothers On Responsibilities
Mothers have been urged to wake up to the responsibilities of motherhood by building good homes that would reflect on the growth and development of Nigeria.
Speaking to newsmen in seperate interviews yesterday in Lagos, a cleric and some Christians urged mothers to cultivate the virtues of peace, humility and love in their relationships with family and society.
The Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Msgr. Gabriel Osu, urged mothers to build a healthy and peaceful home that would subsequently create a peaceful society.
“It is wonderful when mothers are celebrated all over the world; they are celebrated because of their contributions in raising children and giving them an upbringing that impacts on the growth of the nation.
“They help raise future leaders because when these children are well taken care of; there will be peace in the society,’’ Osu said.
Mr Osita Osakwe, of the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Anglican Communion Ikeja, urged the society, specifically men, to value the contributions of women to the peaceful and economic growth of the society.
“If mothers do not nurture and cater for the family daily, all will not be well with the society we live in and will definitely have a negative effect on the country,’’ Osakwe said.
Mr Emmanuel Ibeka of the St Mary’s Anglican Church, Surulere, urged mothers to share their love equally among their children.
“Some mothers are in the habit of letting their children know that they love one child more than the other, it is wrong because they do not know who God will use among the children,’’ he said.
Mrs Azuka Ilozulike, a mother said that mothers are at the receiving end of the current economic hardship in the country.
“The men leave the responsibilities of parenting to mothers alone especially in taking care of the home, as for me it has been difficult and expensive to play the role of a mother at home,’’ Ilozulike said.
Mrs Rekia Eletu, of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) urged mothers to pay more attention to their child’s strengths and interests in order to develop their intellectual capacity.
“As a mother you need to guard against pushing your child in the direction you want. Children need encouragement and guidance,’’ Eletu said.
Pastor Glory Akhimie, of Winners Chapel told newsmen that mothers should be home makers and maintain peace both at home and the society at large.
“As we celebrate Mother’s Day today, I join millions of families to hail the virtue of women and urged them to be the mothers that they are meant to be.’’
She urged mothers to always pray for their children and for the country so that there would be a revival.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite the prosecution of the Director of the now distressed MBA Forex Trading, Mr. Maxwell Odum, in the interest of justice.
The Rivers State NUJ made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the EFFC’s Ag. Zonal Director, ACE Hassan Saidu, in Port Harcourt, recently.
The council’s chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, said the appeal became imperative after it considered the number of Nigerians and others involved in the financial misconduct.
According to him, it has caused hardship among many households in the country and should be given the attention it deserves.
He said that investors cannot come into a country or invest in an economy or nation ridden with fraud.
This, he said, has made it more imperative to arrest, prosecute and convict alleged fraudsters like the MBA Forex Director, who is alleged to have defrauded thousands of unsuspecting Nigerians, to serve as a deterrent to others.
The chairman also requested that while the trial lasts, part of the swindled funds should be given to the victims that suffered loss and trauma as a result of the fraud.
The NUJ reiterated its resolve to change the narrative of reportage from crisis to developmental communication.
According to him, the NUJ’s main focus is blue economy and tourism.
He expressed the readiness of the Council to partner the agency in the area of information dissemination.
“We believe you have a responsibility to fight financial crimes. We also know that you need the Press to publicize your activities and NUJ can provide that,” he said.
Responding, the Zonal EFFC’s boss commended the NUJ’s vision to change the narrative of reporting from crisis to developmental communication.
According to Saidu, the Western world have since imbibed such culture, hence the negative stories about them are carefully sifted to allow only positive ones to be released to the outside world.
As for the trapped funds to be released, the EFCC Zonal Director stated that only the court can authorize such action, stressing that the primary responsibility of the Commission is to arrest and prosecute.
He pledged to partner with the NUJ now that the leadership has visited the Commission.
The Head of the Legal & Prosecution Department, DCE Odiase Stephen, corroborated the Zonal Director’s position and stressed that it was only when the matter has been determined by the court that such funds can be released.
He further stated that once a matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction, it cannot be discussed outside.
By: King Onunwor
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