The wife of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Foluke Adeboye, has urged parents, churches, governments and other stakeholders to play active roles in instilling godly values in children.
Adeboye said the nation’s future depends on how its younger generation is raised.
She made the call in her welcome address, titled “The Mandate of Kingdom Education in National Transformation,” at the annual summit of Christ the Redeemer’s School Management, a multidimensional ministry of the RCCG, on Thursday.
The event, held at Redemption City of God along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, had the theme, “Revisiting Kingdom Education: The Role of Stakeholders.”
Adeboye said the foundation for effective Christian education should be laid at home, urging parents to work with teachers to develop their children’s character and discipline.
She warned against excessive pampering, particularly during school holidays, and called on parents to ensure that their children were brought up in line with godly principles.
“Every child must fear God because the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. We see many of these children who look down on their teachers. If parents discharge their duties effectively, it will make the teacher’s work easier. Meditate on God’s word day and night,” she said.
She also emphasised the importance of correcting children when necessary, noting that responsible parenting and discipline were vital to the country’s progress.
“If only every one of us can come together, do the right things, raise our children rightly, the success of Nigeria is in our hands,” she added.
Adeboye further urged children to obey their parents and called on churches to uphold sound biblical teachings.
She also challenged leaders to discharge their duties responsibly and make sound decisions, warning that poor leadership could encourage corruption, criminality and other social problems.
Speaking on the need to improve education in rural communities, she said schools in such areas were often developed through evangelism and missionary activities to address local educational challenges.
“So many things are wrong and these children from the village have great destiny to fulfil. God is counting on them. They brought David from the bush to be a king of Israel. No child is a useless child; God ordained every child to be great. I believe by the time I leave, I must have made a substantial impact on education in this nation,” she said.
In her keynote address on the same theme, former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, said professionals who ignored the problems confronting society could not contribute meaningfully to national development.
Ezekwesili expressed concern over the state of education in Nigeria, particularly the number of out-of-school children, urging Christians to reflect the values they profess, reminding them of their responsibility to be the light of the world.
She said nation-building required children to develop character, competence and capacity, describing the three attributes as essential to preparing young people for responsible citizenship.
According to her, Christian schools should make diligence, courage, compassion and stewardship central to their teaching, describing the approach as character-based education.
Panellists at the summit also said Kingdom Education should produce responsible and ethical citizens who contribute actively to society rather than remain passive observers.
They stressed that school activities, including curriculum delivery, should be guided by a biblical worldview, adding that Christian schools must equip pupils to understand their identity, defend their faith and withstand societal pressures.
Education plays a central role in shaping children’s values, behaviour and ability to contribute to society. Beyond academic achievement, character development and responsible citizenship remain important considerations in discussions about the quality of education.
The summit brought together religious and education stakeholders to examine how parents, schools, churches and government can contribute to raising a generation equipped with both moral values and the skills needed for national development.
