ENUGU — The Acting Director of National Orientation Agency Enugu, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ugwu has called on parents, teachers, and the government to rise to their responsibilities in positive shaping of the minds of the Nigerian child.
Ugwu made this call at the 4thAnnual Colloquium organized on Tuesday by Relief Pitch Initiative; theme: Unrestrained Aggression a Highway to Extreme Violence and Panacea to Challenges.
Supporting the need for the formation of Integrity Club in Schools to focus on value re-orientation, Ugwu also advised the school children to eschew violence to have better life and society.
Speaking also at the event, Hilary Ozoh, a communication expert United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF, expressed deep concern at the rising aggression and violence among Nigerian Children.
He further explained that curbing aggression had become imperative because Children’s experiences of aggression stay with them through adulthood, with knock-on effects for the next generation.
“One in every five Children manifests aggressive behavior; be it verbal or violent aggressions. It gets worse if not contained, especially if one grows into adulthood with such traits,” Ozoh warned.
The UNICEF representative further revealed, “Violence at home can make Children learn aggressive behaviour, especially parents that practice it.”
Ms. Chinemerem Anyi, founder Relief Pitch Initiative, however, advocates for dialogue.
“There are better ways to resolve conflicting issues; Dialogue is better than violence,” she posited.
Anyi revealed that the prevalence of violence in Nigeria spurred her to organize the program.
Dignitaries at the occasion are Hon. Ugonna Ibe Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism; Hon Prof. Stella Okunna Former Anambra State Information Commissioner and Chairperson of the Event; and Ojel Anidi, Director Research, and Development, Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu.
