By Musa Tanimu Nasidi
Honourable Sulaiman Babadoko has counseled parents to take care of the mental, physical, moral, educational and psychological needs of their children to prevent them from corrupt acts in the society.
Babadoko, a former Member Kogi State House of Assembly, gave the advice during the annual graduation ceremony organised by the Tarbiyatul Aulad Institute, Unguwan, Lokoja.
The former lawmaker, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Badoko Travels, said that a pious and upright mother is an essential factor in raising good children.
He said it is the duty of a good wife to prevent children from getting corrupted by deviant forces. He also advised parents to send their children to school, especially the Qur’anic school which he said contributes to the development of child education
“Children are among the greatest treasure a nation or a parent can have”, he said.
“A child is born with undiluted nature and sound ideology. You should monitor what they watch on your television sets, satellites and social media. The best institution to do this and to train children is home and Islamic institutes. If the family fails to perform its role, the society will take over. If children fail to get care and affection, they go out to look for them,” he added.
He advised youths to shun violence saying; “we must engage our youths in productive ventures so that they will not join bad gangs like cultism and other vices”.
Babadoko congratulated the graduates and urged them to put into practice what they have learnt.
In his opening remarks, Chief Administrator of Lokoja Local Government Area, Hon Shiru Lawal underscored the need for parents to produce pious children by enrolling them in Islamic institutions.
He assured them of his administration determination to provide and assist schools in the area, stressing that the council despite the economy recession is geared towards providing dividends of democracy.
The Principal of the School, Ustaz Tijjani Abdullahi Soje, in his welcome address said 18 students graduated bringing the numbers of students that have graduated from the school to over five hundred.
“30 students graduated this year, but due to the economy recession in the country only 18 would be issued with certificates because some parents had to defer their wards’ graduation due to economy crunch”, he said.
Ustaz Soje urged parents to give knowledge to their children, advising them against leaving the task to teachers.
Madarasatul Tarbiyatul Aulad held her first walimatul Qur’an in 1994.
The Islamic institute was a brainchild of Late Sheikh Abdullahi Babadoko. It began as Makaratan Alo in early seventies.
The late Islamic cleric set up the makarata after he graduated and taught at Late Malam Haruna Na Malam Baba Quranic School (Makaratan Malam Baba), Lokoja.
Sheikh Abdullahi Babadoko, until he died on the 10th of February 2014, appointed one of his sons, Ustaz Tjjanini Abdullahi Soje as the principal of the school while Malam Aliyu Cisse serves as the vice Principal.
