UNESCO wants mothers to address poor parent-child communication

Ikwo (Ebonyi), Nigeria – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has admonished mothers in Ebonyi state to address poor Parent-Child Communication in their homes.

Mrs Elizabeth Okereke, Master Trainer at UNESCO, gave the advice on Tuesday during the 2024 Women August meeting at Onuebonyi Echara in Ikwo Local Government Area of the state.

Okereke also appealed to parents to bring their out-of-school children to be reintegrated back to school.

She said the organisation, in collaboration with the Ebonyi government, would help reintegrate out-of-school teenage mothers to address barriers that children and families faced in accessing education.

She said: “We discovered that the problem teenagers have is poor parent-child communication which could lead them to wrong people or information from unscruplous adults.

“In our first capturing and enrollment of these children at Afikpo Local Government Area (LGA), we observed that most of them are intelligent and smart teenage mothers.

“But their parents, out of anger, pushed them out to suffer or hawk on the streets with their babies.”

Okereke said this was why UNESCO decided to use the August meeting to sensitise mothers on the need to relate, talk and reintegrate their children in school to save them from harm.

The annual August meeting is a gathering of women from South east Nigeria, both at home and abroad.

In her remarks, Mrs Chikaodi Omokide, the Executive Director of GirlUp Africa, said her organisation was working with stakeholders to promote education for the health and well-being of people in the state.

Omokide said: “As the implementing partner, we are eager to enrol these girls who have dropped out of school due to circumstances.”

In her speech, Mrs Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, wife of Gov. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, charged women to utilise the benefits of the lessons and teachings from the gatherings to better their families and the society.

Nwifuru, who was represented by Mrs Stella Okoro-Emegha, urged women to adhere to the main idea behind August meeting.

Mrs Lilian Nwaobashi, President of Medical Women Association, Ebonyi chapter, while creating awareness on tuberculosis (TB) disease, disclosed that gatherings and poor prevention measures were the likely ways to TB transmission.

A Resource Person and Wife of a former Governor, Mrs Josephine Elechi, encouraged women to support government to build better families and the society.

Mrs Faithvin Nwanchor, Chairperson at the event, reminded women to reflect and recognise that the true measure of a society lies in their strength and wisdom.

Also, Mrs Lynda Nwankwo, Chairperson and Wife of the LG Chairman, appreciated Mrs Nwifuru, for her contributions to women and indigent persons in the state.

The event featured lectures on ending drug abuse and building better homes for healthy society.

Bags of rice, wrappers, detergents, cash gift, among other items, were distributed to 20 indigents persons by Nwifuru.