Many of us are aware of the recent issues arising from the death of Christianah Idowu, a 300-level student from FUNAAB (Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta) School, who was murdered by Ayomide Adeleye (who is now in police custody). 

Different social media platforms have given varying information on what transpired. In the midst of the varying information, it is a truism that the society, schools, and parents, have a lot of work to do to help children and youths become responsible and morally upright individuals. 

We all are discussing the Christianah’s case because we have some information about the incident. What about other forms of atrocities such as: Internet fraud, prostitution, ritual killings, gambling and so on perpetuated by young boys and girls of this generation? Who are we to blame for this decadence? Are we going to blame parents, or the schools, or the society? Are we all responsible for what our children and youths are becoming? Have we not all failed the children, the youths and ourselves? What can the society, schools, and parents do to forestall decadence amongst our children and youths?

It takes a village to raise a child – is an African proverb that means “an entire community of people must interact with children for those children to grow in a safe and healthy environment.” In other words, the formation of an individual child is the entire task of the community.

The society must participate actively in bringing up the child. The society has a significant role to perform in child development. The child is formed holistically through the impact of the society. The society plays a prominent role in the behaviour and character of the children. The society determines the identity of the child, the general outlook of the child, how the child sees himself or herself, and the ethics of the child. 

In a society where teens and children glory in immorality, crimes and other vices – it is a reflection of what the society has become. The Nigeria society has failed the youth and children. In almost all spheres, we indulge in activities that are inimical to the formation of the youth and children. The Nigeria society should as a matter of urgency help our children and youths. 

Adequate census and embargo should be placed on things, events, and commodities that could instil vices in the children and youths. Also, individuals and stakeholders should help in mentoring the children and youths adequately. The kind of movies and sites they view should be checkmated. The kind of music they listen to should be regulated.

The places they visit should be examined. It is worth stating that children and youth are easily formed through what they see – as such, grown-ups and adult should always portray good acts and habits before the children and youths. 

One of the significant organs of the society is the school. Schools have an important role to play in helping children and youths develop their intellectual, physical, moral, social, and emotional well-being. The schools also help young ones to promote and manage their relationships with others to be able to live and work with them responsibly. 

However, it seems as if the educational system of Nigeria schools is not having a good formation in the lives of the children and youth. In most schools, they prioritize just intellectual formation to the detriment of physical, social, moral, and emotional formations. 

The school is not just a place we form a child on how to read and write alone. It is a place where a child should learn about himself, how to grow and develop, and become useful to the society at large.

As such, the curriculum of the educational system of Nigeria schools should be evaluated to cover holistic formation of the children and youths (intellectually, physically, morally, socially, and emotionally). Moral instructions, guidance and counselling, self-esteem, human dignity, and so on, should be subjects that are taught in schools.

Children and youths exert energy at all times; hence, the school integral formation should also include learning of vocational skills and sport education. Through learning of vocational skills (like: Carpentry, fashion design, cooking, music, and programming just to mention a few), and, sport education (such as: football, chess, track and field events and so on), children and youths will have better avenues to develop their skills and exhibit better traits for the good of themselves, and the society at large.

Parenting is also a vital organ of the society in raising a child. Parents include the mother, the father, as well as other caregivers who act as guardians of a particular child. Parenting involves the process of raising a child up by the parents. 

According to Diana Baumrid (a developmental Psychologist), there are four styles of parenting: Permissive, authoritative, neglectful, and authoritarian. Some of the parenting styles are highly hazardous to the proper formation of the child. Some parents focus more on making money and become permissive to the training of their children. Some parents are indifferent with the behaviours and actions of their wards; this in itself is dangerous to the society. 

The human formation of a child begins at home. Parents are the first teachers of their children. They have a key role in shaping the lives of their children. Parents should be good role models for their children. Parents should oversee the activities of their children.

Parents should make the home conducive for their children so that the child can easily open up at all times. Parents should listen to their children at all times, in case of salient issues. Parents should create good time for their children. Parents should prioritize the formation of their children.

In the midst of the present decadence in our society, if we all become dutiful in good ways, the future will be bright.