The Lagos State Government has called on parents to take a more active role in tackling cultism, drug abuse, bullying and other social vices among schoolchildren, warning that schools alone cannot raise responsible citizens.
The appeal came on Wednesday as Education District VI brought together parents, school administrators and security agencies for a district-wide engagement aimed at strengthening child protection and promoting values-based education across public secondary schools.
Speaking at the forum, the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Education District VI, Mrs Mojisola Christiana Yusuff, said the increasing social challenges confronting young people require a united response from families, schools, communities and government institutions.
She stressed that while schools provide academic knowledge, parents remain the first teachers of every child and must deliberately instil discipline, integrity and accountability.
“Education is a powerful weapon, but values provide its direction. Together, we must raise children who will shape a safer, stronger Nigeria,” she said.
Yusuff urged parents to pay closer attention to their children’s behaviour, maintain open communication at home and work with schools in identifying early signs of behavioural problems before they escalate.
Representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) also used the forum to educate participants on the dangers of cultism, substance abuse, bullying and sexual and gender-based violence.
POCACOV State Coordinator, SP Olivia Ugochukwu, described parents as the foundation of every child’s development, saying strong family values remain the most effective defence against youth involvement in crime and violence.
CSP Odutola Omolola of the Lagos State Police Command’s Gender Unit urged parents to stay involved in both the online and offline lives of their children, noting that the growing influence of digital technology has introduced new risks that demand closer supervision.
The NDLEA, represented by Commander Agoma Arinola Abosede, warned that drug abuse continues to destroy the future of many young people, linking substance abuse to criminal behaviour, poor academic performance and mental health problems.
On school security, NSCDC representative SC Inegbese Eromosele encouraged schools to strengthen safety measures through improved access control, perimeter fencing and emergency preparedness while urging members of the public to promptly report suspicious activities.
The forum was attended by the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State, Comrade Akintoye Hassan; the President of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Lagos State Chapter, Mr Olusola Masheyi; school administrators and other education stakeholders.
Participants agreed that protecting children from harmful influences requires sustained collaboration between parents, schools, security agencies and communities, with renewed emphasis on values, discipline and early intervention.
