By Uzo Ugwunze
The re-elected Community Women Leader of Alor, Lady Ifeoma Uzokwe, and other stakeholders have urged mothers to prioritise proper child upbringing by instilling moral values, discipline and the fear of God in their children.
The call was made on Aug. 5 during the 2026 Alor Women August Meeting, where the seven member executive of Inyom Alor was unanimously re-elected and inaugurated for a second three year term in Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra.
The keynote speaker and former Chairman of the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Dr Nkiru Nwadinobi, called for a return to the traditional Igbo system of communal child upbringing, saying extended family members, neighbours and other community members once played active roles in raising children.
Nwadinobi said the system promoted good morals, discipline, respect for elders and hard work. She urged parents to encourage their children to acquire vocational skills during holidays and ensure they learn and speak the Igbo language.
“Let the extended family members be involved in training a child. In those days, neighbours helped to correct other people’s children and reported wrongdoing to their parents. If you see a child half-dressed, do not curse; correct the child in love,” she said.
Uzokwe, in her address, urged mothers to monitor their children from an early age and take child upbringing seriously, while encouraging women to shun laziness and become industrious to support their families.
“Our children do not go to church anymore. Child upbringing should be taken seriously. Our women should sit down and start retraining their children in the fear of the Lord and inculcate moral values in them,” she said.
Also speaking, Mrs Kosisochukwu Akubueze, APGA candidate for councillor, Alor Ward II, described mothers as the “gatekeepers of the family”, warning that inadequate parental supervision could expose children to drug abuse, touting and other social vices.
The re-elected executive comprises Uzokwe, President-General; Mrs Lucy Uzoegbunam, Vice President; Mrs Chiamaka Igwebuike, General Secretary; Mrs Chinwe Okoyeobele, Assistant Secretary; Mrs Benedicta Nwoyegbuzue, Financial Secretary; Mrs Nkiru Oyeudo, Treasurer; and Mrs Esther Okonkwo, Publicity Secretary.
The inauguration was witnessed by the Mayor of Idemili South, Mrs Amaka Obi; President of the ASTUC Women Wing, Mrs Blessing Onuigwe; representatives of the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare; other officials; President-General of Alor, High Chief Emmanuel Ojukwu Agbaigwe; and members of Inyom Alor.
Uzo Ugwunze is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
