LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- In a timely message for families navigating modern parenting pressures, Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, has cautioned against raising children without boundaries, warning that excessive indulgence could create long-term social consequences.
Speaking at the sixth annual Ramadan lecture held in honour of the late Muftau Hamzat and organized by the Ifako-Ijaiye Muslim Community in Ogba, the deputy governor stressed that affection alone is not enough to prepare children for adulthood. He urged families to balance love with discipline, spotlighting responsible parenting as the backbone of a stable society.
Hamzat explained that while children deserve love, encouragement and support, such nurturing must be firmly rooted in accountability and moral instruction. He noted that over-indulgence fuels behavioural issues among young people, mirroring deeper cracks within the social fabric.
“Proper moral training and character development are essential to ensure our children grow into responsible adults and do not become a burden later in life,” he said.
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Furthermore, Hamzat underscored that the strength of any society is tied directly to the quality of its homes. Rising social challenges, he observed, often stem from inadequate supervision and a decline in value-based upbringing. For this reason, he urged religious leaders to consistently reinforce teachings on discipline, compassion and ethical development within their congregations.
Meanwhile, President of the Ifako-Ijaiye Muslim Community, Abdul-Lateef Sunmonu, encouraged Muslims to renew their consciousness of Allah while embracing unity and gratitude. Reflecting on the legacy of the late monarch, he described him as a guiding patriarch whose contributions continue to influence religious, political and social growth.
“Together, with sincerity, unity and dedication, we can build a prosperous and spiritually uplifting Muslim community,” Sunmonu said.
Adding an academic perspective, Abdulrazaq Alaro of the University of Ilorin delivered a lecture titled “Building a Pristine Home as the Foundation of an Ideal Society.” He painted a vision of an ideal society defined by peace, security and prosperity.
According to Alaro, many parents are shifting their fundamental responsibilities to schools, a trend he warned could weaken the very structure of society. He further advised parents to instil God-consciousness in their children and teach them respect for others, emphasizing that neglect today could translate into instability tomorrow.
“If parents continue to abdicate their duties at home, the vision of an ideal society will remain unattainable. A society is nothing but a collection of homes. Without pristine homes, you can never have an ideal society. Failure to nurture young people properly could result in future social challenges and threaten community stability,” he warned.
