By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Anambra State governor’s wife, Dr Nonye Soludo, on Tuesday, lamented over the moral decadence in the society, which according to her, could no longer be remedied by formal education alone.
Soludo stated this at 2025 Congress organised by the Anambra State Universal Basic Education (ASUBEB) themed moral regeneration and value reorientation at the basic education level: the role of stakeholders.
According to her, evidence to moral decadence include increase in examination malpractices usually aided by some parents, robbery, disobedience to traffic rules, neopaganism, inordinate ambitions to amass wealth, nudity to make money on social media, among others.
“Have dinner together with your children. Listen to them, share ideas, have a chat with them. Teach them that there is dignity things in genuine labour. Teach them our culture and traditions. Encourage them to learn and speak our language. Make them to see you as their role modal,” she added.
She called for reactivation of moral instructions across schools, mentoring, guidance and counselling to assist in reclaiming the society from abnormal behaviours.
Mrs Soludo also called on parents, communities, religious leaders, schools and other stakeholders to join in inculcating moral values on students, noting that training children should be the responsibilities of all as practised in cosmopolitan Igbo society.
The lead paper presenter, Professor Emeka Ezeonu of the Department of Applied Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka had traced the history of moral regeneration and value reorientation at the basic education level and proffered relevant solutions towards eradicating them.
Speaking in a panel discussion, Professor Jaja Nwanegbo of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; the Chairman, Anambra Post Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSSC), Professor Nkechi Ikediugwu; Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Ify Obinabo and the former Provost, Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe; told parents to build bond with their children and train them in a way that they could easily be transformed by schools.
The panelists also urged parents to be mindful of how they dress, talk or relate with their spouses and others in presence of their children, including activities they engage on social media as they could impact negatively on their children emotions and general well-being.
Also speaking, Chairman of the occasion, Chief Clement Nwogbo argued that education plays key role in moulding the characters of children especially when the investment in that direction were utilised and urged all the stakeholders to join hands in inculcating moral values and orientations on children.
Earlier, the host and Chairman, ASUBEB, Dr Vera Nkiru Nwadinobi, explained that the Congress was aimed at reminding the stakeholders of a need to reunite and build a strong moral foundation with secure resilient and prosperous nation for transformation of children.
