Ooni laments declining patriotism in Nigerian children

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Friday said patriotism was fast fading away from the heart of many Nigerian children....


The monarch said this during a programme organised by his wife, Wuraola, for children to celebrate this year’s Children’s Day with them.

He appealed to Nigerian leaders at all levels to invest more in children for a better future for the nation.

He said, “Children of the past believed so much in this country and that aided the growth of this country. Patriotism from the older generation children helped this nation so much, but the country no longer enjoys such today again.

“Today’s children must also believe in this country, they must have hope in this country.

“The children are the future of this country; we can do more for the children. We should be more afraid of the children than even the adult because the level of investment in them will tell on this country. Leaders must move closer to the children and that is exactly what you have seen my wife and I do today.”

The monarch’s wife urged parents to spend more time with their children to know them intimately so that the children could have confidence in them.

She advised children to shun vices and spend more time with their studies rather than wasting time on frivolities.