Says, “Untrained Children Become Their Parents’ Burden“
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate 2025 Children’s Day, the Chairman and Chief Executive of NITO Sports and NITO Communications Limited, Mr. Adebowale Adeoye, has issued a profound and urgent call to parents: “Invest in your children’s proper upbringing today, or prepare for regret and pain tomorrow.”
Speaking on the sidelines of a Children’s Day event held at the New Heritage Baptist Church, Eniosa, Ibadan, Adeoye reminded parents that a well-trained child is not only an asset to the family, but also a builder of communities and a guardian of their parents in old age.
“There is no greater legacy a parent can leave than a well-mannered, morally upright, and properly educated child,” Adeoye emphasized. “The child you invest in today may grow to become your boss, your sponsor, your protector, or even your guardian. But the child you fail to guide and train will remain a child forever — no matter his age — giving you headaches and sorrow when you should be enjoying peace.”
According to Adeoye, the consequences of failing in the duty of parenting are not abstract or distant — they are painfully real. “When children are left without discipline, education, and strong moral values, they bring reproach not only to their parents but also to the extended family and the community they originate from,” he said.
He warned that untrained and neglected children often become the very reason their parents suffer in old age. “Many parents have been sent to early graves because of the irresponsibility of the very children they labored to raise. No parent should have to face that tragedy,” he lamented.
He called for a return to value-based parenting, encouraging parents to take an active and intentional role in nurturing their children’s minds, hearts, and behaviors — spiritually, academically, and socially. He also urged religious institutions, community leaders, and governments to play stronger roles in supporting families with child-rearing tools, education, and mentorship programs.
“A well-trained child,” he said, “will not only uplift his or her own family but will also lend a hand to lift younger siblings, contribute meaningfully to the development of society, and serve as a pride to generations.”
He concluded with a solemn appeal: “Let us not wait until it’s too late. The peace and legacy of every family depend on what they build in their children today. If we fail them now, we may have no future left to call our own.”
