First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Urges Mothers To Instill Values In Children

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on mothers to instill the right values in their children, emphasizing the importance of fostering trust and open communication within families. She made this statement during the National Cybercrime Summit and the launch of the 24/7 Rapid Response Desk by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, the First Lady highlighted that success in life requires hard work and honesty, warning that dishonesty leads to serious consequences. She urged mothers to create supportive relationships with their children, saying, “Be their friends, don’t be judgmental, but love them until they find themselves. We are our children’s first teachers, and what we teach them significantly impacts their future.”

Senator Tinubu also expressed concern about the challenges posed by the digital age. While technology offers many opportunities, it has also exposed the country to new risks, especially with the rising involvement of young people in cybercrime. She noted that despite numerous arrests and convictions, the number of youth engaged in cybercrime remains high, which threatens Nigeria’s efforts toward economic growth and stability.

The First Lady stressed the need to promote hard work and integrity among the youth, stating that parents play a crucial role in shaping their children’s character and patriotism. She urged parents to maintain open lines of communication with their children to help address their fears and concerns.

Quoting the Bible, Senator Tinubu reminded Nigerians of their collective responsibility to make the nation prosperous: “Nigeria is all we have, and we must work together to sustain its glory. As the scriptures say, ‘the profit of the earth is for all’ (Ecclesiastes 5:9). We must guide our youth toward positive activities and discourage involvement in cybercrime.”

Other speakers at the event, including the Minister of State for Youth, Hon. Ayodele Olawande, state governors led by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, and traditional rulers, echoed the First Lady’s sentiments. They agreed that combating cybercrime requires a restoration of core values and respect for culture. “Value reorientation is crucial at this time in our nation,” they emphasized, calling on families, religious institutions, and traditional leaders to lead the charge.

During the summit, Senator Tinubu unveiled the 24/7 Rapid Response Desk, which aims to improve the EFCC’s response to cybercrime reports, reducing the time between reports and action taken by the Commission.