The Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) has urged parents and caregivers to embrace positive and intentional parenting as a foundation for raising responsible children and building a peaceful society.
Speaking at a parenting programme themed “Transforming Families Through Positive and Intentional Parenting,”the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Bolaji Cecilia Dada, said the home remains the first environment where children develop their values, character and emotional well-being.
She highlighted the growing influence of social media and technology on young people, urging parents to monitor their children’s online activities and maintain open communication to guard against cyberbullying, harmful peer pressure and negative influences.
The commissioner also linked rising cases of domestic violence, substance abuse and juvenile delinquency to poor parental guidance, stressing that intentional parenting is essential to building safer communities.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Women’s Rights and Health Project, Mrs. Bose Ironsi, encouraged parents to adopt parenting styles rooted in love, trust and mutual respect, while discouraging fear-based and authoritarian approaches that could harm children’s emotional development.
Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Rianat Ajibike Onigbanjo, described the family as the first school where children learn integrity, compassion and responsibility. She reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to protecting women and children through WAPA’s programmes and support services.
Participants were encouraged to seek assistance from agencies such as the Domestic Violence Unit, Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), Office of the Public Defender, Child Protection Network, and the Women’s Rights and Health Project when faced with parenting challenges.
