Her Regal Majesty, Olori Temitope Adeyeye-Ogunwusi, wife of the Ooni of Ife, has reaffirmed her commitment to quality education and technological advancement for Nigerian children, describing both as key pillars for national development.
Speaking in Abuja during the 2025 International Day of the Boy Child celebration, themed “Boys’ Mental Health and Wellbeing”, Olori Adeyeye-Ogunwusi called for stronger private sector partnerships to increase investment in Nigeria’s educational system and intellectual capital.
“I want you all to be assured that investing in quality education for every Nigerian child remains a top priority for any nation’s development,” she stated.
She noted that while education has long been described as the key to the future, digital literacy now serves as the master key in today’s world.
“The classroom is no longer just a physical space; it is now an infinite world of knowledge. The most transformative lessons of our time are not confined to four walls but are happening in the boundless universe of the internet,” she said. “Therefore, we must give our children the best opportunities to develop their potential — they are the leaders of tomorrow.”
She urged children to embrace digital tools as part of their learning journey, saying: “Use your tablets to broaden your knowledge, sharpen your skills, and prepare yourselves for the limitless possibilities ahead.”
Drawing from religious teachings, Olori Adeyeye-Ogunwusi reflected on the importance of moral upbringing: “The word of God says — and it is also in the Qur’an and the Bible — that if you train up a child in the way he should go when he grows, he will not depart from it. God’s word cannot be removed or added — it never lies.”
She challenged parents to reflect on their roles in raising children: “If the Word is true, what went wrong? We must ask ourselves as parents, how have we raised our children?”
Expressing concern, she noted that economic pressures and demanding work schedules have led many parents to delegate the upbringing of their children to others.
“We are all victims of this. Many of us no longer raise our children ourselves. We leave them to nannies or teachers. We often forget that training begins in the womb. From the moment a child is conceived, parents must speak into their lives and pray for them,” she said.
She warned that placing infants in daycare from as early as one year old, without adequate parental guidance, may limit the values and discipline children receive.
“One teacher to many children is not intense training,” she remarked.
Commending Ambassador Hillary Akpua, founder of the Great Achievers Initiative for Youth and Community Development (GAIYD), for organising the event, she urged parents to renew their commitment to raising morally upright and intellectually prepared children.
“As parents, let us do our best to train these children so our nation can move forward. Our society will thrive when we raise them well, and they grow up with strong values,” she concluded.
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