Women’s influence as catalyst for nation’s reformation 

Note: Continuation of article series on Moral decadence, societal ignorance 40 years after WAI, published on 12th November, 2024, in this Column.

The role of women in transforming societies has become increasingly prominent in recent years. This piece seeks to highlight essential contributions women make in bringing progress and transformation within their countries. Nigerian women in their various backgrounds and capacities play vital roles in addressing various social challenges and their influence can serve as a powerful catalyst for our nation’s reformation in the face of issues like moral decadence and parental failure.

Parental failure leads to family failure, youth wastage, societal breakdown; these render a nation sick, erode national trust, diminish growth and may lead to nation’s collapse and eventual death notwithstanding any nation’s gigantic antecedents and goodwill, or whatever laurels that nation may have boasted with in time past. There is a noticeable increase in moral decadence manifesting in various forms, including Parental Failure, in Nigeria today. As much as accusing fingers may not be pointed to one gender, group or ethnicity, women have a tremendous obligation and a big role to play in the family as an institution and a bedrock of every nation.

In modern-day society, the idea of parental failure has been highlighted as a significant topic of discussion particularly in relation to national reformation because family is the fundamental unit of society and plays an important role in shaping values, behaviour, and posterity. But when parental roles are compromised, undermined or neglected, the repercussions can create a ripple effect throughout communities and the nation at large. Women as primary caregivers and nurturers have a critical part to play in addressing these challenges and driving national reformation.

Understanding parental failure in Nigeria

In 1989, Nigeria’s musical icons King Sunny Ade and amiable Onyeka Onwenu sang out their hearts with prophetic musical rendition of their hit song “Wait for Me”. These two icons in the song foresaw, highlighted and drew attention to the menace of parental failure.

Parental failure is the inability to provide adequate emotional, educational and physical support for children. This failure can manifest in various forms, including not being prepared for parenting which may lead to abuse or abandonment, neglect, lack of guidance and inadequate emotional bonding. Factors contributing to parental failure are complex, spanning through socio-economic challenges, mental health issues and poverty.

The consequences of parental failure are profound as children who grow up in dysfunctional environments often face diverse difficulties in many areas of life including coping with educational endeavours, social relationships and emotional stability. These challenges can lead to an unbreakable cycle of poverty and social issues that affect not one individual but communities and the nation. 

Women, education and empowerment

Women have over the years earned the emblem of being primary caregivers in families and their role in addressing parental failure is of essence. They are often the ones who instil values, teach empathy and provide emotional support. However, the role of women extends far beyond the home; they are increasingly being positioned as leaders in the education sector, healthcare and social services, business and industry, governance and international relations, making them key players in nation building and reformation. One can recall with respect Aba Women’s Riots of 1929 against colonial oppression; the   struggles of Chief Funmilayo Ransome Kuti (Anikulapo Kuti), educator, political campaigner, suffragist and women’s rights activist; Chief Margaret Ekpo, women’s rights activist, social mobilizer, pioneer female politician in Nigeria’s First Republic; Prof. Zulu Sofola, first female professor of Theatre Arts in Africa, first  published female Nigerian playwright, and dramatist; Prof. Grace Alele Williams, first Nigerian female vice chancellor and former vice chancellor, University of Benin, Benin City; Chief Mrs Bola Kuforiji-Olubi, notable Nigerian business woman; Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s global amazon; among many known, and unsung women in our nation’s growth and reformation. 

Women’s education can be linked to improved family outcome, this is true because the home front is impacted economically, health wise, empowering other women in the society and advocating for better living conditions. Looking at the broader picture, when creating curriculum and planning programmes for women, the nation needs to consider those elements that will encourage these women to prioritise their children’s well-being. Nigeria can foster a culture of informed parenting leading to generations of equitable individuals in the long run. Programmes that offer parenting education can equip women with skills to nurture their children effectively, thereby mitigating the effects of parental failure.

Community engagement

Women usually take on leadership roles in community organisations and in programmes aimed at supporting families. Their participation or leadership in these initiatives will encourage women to address root causes of parental failure, such as poverty, immoral behaviours, delinquency, and many other vices and ills prevalent in our communities today. Community programmes that provide support like parenting classes, general health education, mental health resources, unprepared parenting, teenage pregnancy and family counselling can significantly improve the family system, shed light on the way the society views parenting and improve communal life relationships where every woman is her sister’s keeper.

These programmes will equip women and give them the impetus to engage teenagers and youths in a communal convergence to speak and offer meaningful guidance that could bring a prodigal boy or girl home, pointing them to a better future. 

Advocacy for policy change

Women’s voices are vital in advocating for policies that support families and societies. Women can be the bridge between the communities, teenagers and youth and policy makers. Because they relate directly with the grassroots, they understand their plight, they can be the voice that conveys the mind of the people to the policy makers. Their advocacy may include pushing for teenage and youth development, giving listening ear to the youth who are the leaders of tomorrow and harnessing the wisdom in youth for economic growth. These in turn will create an enabling environment that supports local manufacturer’s goods and services, skills acquisition programmes, responsible parenting, parental leave, childcare and health services, among others. Through advocacy for change, women can help create an environment that supports a morally stable society rather than hinder effective parenting. Policymaking that considers the needs of families can contribute to a more stable society, reducing parental failure.

The ugly effects of parental failure are dealing devastating blows on our children, causing  damage to our younger generation, and threatening our posterity.  No nation can make a headway with hopelessness and with streets full of delinquents. Parental failure does not happen all by itself, that is the more reason that its root causes should be  addressed as a matter of urgency as it poses significant threats to our nation’s progress. Women have the power to lead national reformation efforts.

                                                    Series to be continued 

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