Some University of Ibadan (UI) researchers, in collaboration with other African scholars, have advocated policies that will improve the well-being and development of parents and children in Africa.
The researchers made this known on Tuesday in Ibadan during a dissemination workshop tagged ‘Changing notions of identity in fatherhood, motherhood and child wellbeing’, under the joint research efforts of five African countries, including Nigeria.
The event, which was hosted in partnership with the Women’s Research and Documentation Centre (WORDOC), Institute of African Studies, UI, was a project under the Strengthening Capacity for Research and Policy Engagement in Shifting Notions of Motherhood and Fatherhood for Improved Children’s Wellbeing in Africa (SCaRPE-A Nigeria).
According to the organisers of the event, the universities involved in the project included the University of Western Cape, South Africa; the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa; the University of Rwanda; the University of Moi, Kenya; and the University of Ibadan, Nigeria; and Makerere University, Uganda.
The Coordinator of WORDOC and Principal Investigator of SCaRPE-A project in Nigeria, Dr Sharon Omotoso, delivering the opening remarks, noted that countries, states, and organisations place more emphasis on political, economic, and security issues in society than fundamental issues facing the family as the basic unit.
Omotoso added that the researchers on the project have worked extensively on family issues related to parenting and child upbringing, and how they affect African society.
“Many of the problems facing society can be linked to people from dysfunctional families. The findings from these researches are important, and from this point, we want to push our policy advocacies and communique to the appropriate authorities and the press,” she said.
Godspower Ujene of the Department of Sociology, UI, presented ‘The role of family and family members in the reintegration and rehabilitation of Boko Haram terrorists in North East Nigeria’.
Bolaji Akanni of the Department of Philosophy, UI, titled her presentation ‘Widowhood dynamics and complexities of parenting in Osun State, South-West Nigeria’ with her study focus on Obokun, Osogbo, and Isokan Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
Esther Ololajulo from the Gender Studies Unit of the Institute of African Studies, UI, presented ‘Identity construction of parents raising children with albinism in South-West Nigeria’.
Simnikiwe Magqamfana of the School of Human and Community Development, Witswatersarand University, South Africa, presented ‘Black men and fatherhood: With alienation of black fathers from their children in Alice, South Africa’.
Dr Zaid Sekito of the Department of History, Archaeology and Heritage Studies, Makerere University, Uganda, presented ‘Historicising the concept of motherhood in Buganda 1840 – 2021’.
Animashaun Modupe of Peace, Security and Humanitarian Studies, UI, presented ‘Mothering in violence: Intersecting identities and parenthood at the borders’.
The Co-Principal Investigator of SCaRPE- A project in Nigeria, Dr Mutiat Oladejo facilitated the workshop alongside the founder of Mentoring Assistance for Youth and Entrepreneurs Initiative (MAYEIN), Mrs Edem Ossai, and Dr Mofeyisara Omobowale of the Institute of Child Health, College of Medicine, UI.
Facilitators commended the presenters and expressed their satisfaction with the presentations. Furthermore, they made relevant comments and suggestions on each of the presented works and called for further research, collaboration, and support for the SCaRPE-A project.
At the end of the presentations, the organisers summarised the ideas and findings of the works and issued a communique.
The researchers argued that the concepts of family, parenthood, widowhood, and child upbringing have broadened beyond conventional understanding and now require the government, educators, and religious organisations to be abreast of the dynamics and complexities associated with them as they make policies that affect the family and society.
They stressed that if family and society complexities are not properly factored in policy formation, social vices and unrest such as terrorism, crime, injustices, inequality, and other inhuman activities will be prevalent in society.
Furthermore, they advocated prompt social, financial, psychological, and mental support for families facing terrorism, social injustice, and disabilities.
They emphasised the importance of welfare for the children of widowed partners and prescribed policy actions that will be inclusive for them.
They charged the government to look into cultures dehumanising women and provide policies that will safeguard the rights of women.
Given the criminal tendency of young people living around borders community, they proposed intervention programmes by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and youth leaders that will include training and capacity strenghtehening. They advocated an internal support system to build resilience for families threatened in space and time, spotlighting the provision of human security and education to border communities.
Omotoso, while giving the vote of thanks, appreciated the following organisations for participating and signing the communique adopted at the end of the event: WORDOC, Centre for Applied Ethics and Political Communication in Africa (CAEPOCOM Africa), Cedar for Human Welfare Initiative, Rays of Hope Community Foundation, Excellence Minds’ Outreach International, Rich Heritage Foundation. Mentoring Assistance for Youths and Entrepreneurs Initiative (MAYEIN), Women in Unpaid and Informal Employment in Nigeria (WIIEN), and Yoruba World Center (YWC).
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