Amid rising concerns over decreasing values of teaching and learning in society, stakeholders have called for a renewed emphasis on stronger home training, dynamic school teaching and home-based guidance and counselling for children as viable avenues to reform Nigeria’s education sector.
They made the submissions at the 23rd annual National Education Summit of the Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN), held at the Ekiti State Civic Centre, Ado-Ekiti, with the theme: “Improving the Quality of Education and Achievements Through Guidance and Counselling.”
The three-day summit opened with Quranic recitations and state reports, setting the tone for robust discussions on revamping the nation’s education system through family values and spiritual reawakening.
Addressing participants, the Ekiti State First Lady, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, who stressed the vital role of women in nation-building through intentional parenting, lamented the alarming erosion of values among youths, advocating a more pragmatic and spiritually rooted mode of knowledge transfer, beginning from home.
The Governor’s wife who spoke through Professor Aminat Abdul-Azeez Apenpe, charged women to raise morally sound children who would become responsible members of society and good spouses.
In her own remarks, the summit hostess and Secretary to the Ekiti State Government, Professor Habibat Adubiaro, reaffirmed the Islamic imperative for education and knowledge, urging parents to nurture children in the way of Allah and warned against societal vices like cybercrime and materialism.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor of Guidance and Counselling at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Fatai Adebowale, identified the family unit as the bedrock of socialization and learning.
Prof. Adebowale recommended engaging, humorous teaching methods and career guidance rooted in current societal realities, just as he advised parents to correct their children with love, guide their digital interactions and embrace Western education alongside Islamic teachings.
“We must ensure that children are not just prepared for exams; we have to prepare them for their future. We should also be able to know every child and how to create a rewarding future for him or her through lifelong learning. There is also the need for us to modernize Islamic schools so that the students will have the opportunity to learn with contemporary teaching aides,” he said.
Chairperson of FOMWAN’s National Education Committee, Professor Lateefa Durosinmi in her welcome address, emphasized that women bear a significant responsibility in shaping the future of society through effective child-rearing.
She said the association is deeply committed to improving children’s education and plans to expand its educational activities; while she acknowledged support from northern state governments and called for greater collaboration with other regions.
“Federation of Muslim Women’s Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN) is an education-focused organization that promotes the educational development of women, youths and children through the establishment of formal and non-formal schools including vocational centres all over the federation”
“FOMWAN has always been concerned about the issues of out-of-school children and the plight of the Almajiris, especially in the Northern part of Nigeria, as the hitherto well-organised system has become a serious socio-economic issue. FOMWAN believes that there should be lasting, sustainable strategies and action plans to lower the figures. One of such approaches is to introduce sustainable functional literacy and numeracy activities into the Madrasa/Almajiri schools. Should be in addition to learning a vocation with a focus on skill development,” she said.
Ekiti State Amirah of FOMWAN, Alhaja Aishat Jimoh, expressed gratitude for the success of the summit and urged members to implement insights gained at the event for maximum impact.
Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Kazeem Babatunde, lauded FOMWAN for championing educational development, while the chairperson and Ekiti State House of Assembly member, Alhaja Mariam Ogunlade called on stakeholders to emulate FOMWAN’s commitment.
Spiritual fathers of the day, including the President General of the League of Imams and Alfas in the South-West, Edo, and Delta, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere-Bello, and the Ekiti State Ansar-ud-Deen Missioner, Sheikh Abdulsalam Babatunde, also stressed the transformative power of quality education and praised FOMWAN’s efforts in this regard.
In his own contribution, Ekiti State President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Hammed Bakare, applauded both FOMWAN and the state government for their unwavering support for educational advancement.
The event which featured Qur’anic recitations, and fund donations had in attendance, dignitaries, such as the Iya Sunna General, Alhaja Aishat Lateef (represented), Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Peju Babafemi (represented), the Aare Musulumi of Ekiti, Alhaji Abdul-Ganiy Adebiyi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Tertiary Education, Prof Abdul-Azeez Abdul-Akeem, prof. Musa Abdul-Raheem, several high-profile government officials and clerics.
The programmes were rounded up with the review of the papers presented, where different groups of participants discussed and shared what they learnt so far, as well as a presentation of a communique from the summit.
