The Founder and Spiritual Head of Shafaudeen-In-Islam Worldwide, Professor Sabit Ariyo Olagoke (JP), has called on parents, policymakers and other stakeholders to strengthen value-based parenting and youth empowerment as a pathway to sustainable national development.
Professor Olagoke made the call at the 21st edition of the Shafaudeen Group of Schools Annual Kiddies Sports and Inter-School Novelty Race, organised to mark the commencement of the organisation’s 43rd annual Ishrat programme.
Delivering a lecture titled “Parenting and the Secret of Youth Success,” Olagoke stressed that behavioural patterns cultivated during childhood and adolescence largely determine success in adulthood.
According to him, attaining success as a young adult is rooted in lifelong learning, creativity, digital literacy, global awareness and resilience.
“Young people must also learn to network and collaborate with their peers, remain curious and open-minded, and pursue life with clearly defined goals and priorities,” he said.
The Islamic scholar added that emotional intelligence, access to mentorship and the ability to learn from both success and failure are critical to developing a positive behavioural identity.
He noted that youths must adopt a balanced approach to life in order to achieve “maximum positive value and minimal failure in their personal and professional pursuits.”
Professor Olagoke further highlighted four categories of youth identified by sociologist Michael Brake in 1980, explaining that young people may be respectable, delinquent, culturally rebellious or politically militant.
“The choice a young person makes among these categories ultimately determines the outcome of their life journey,” he said.
On national development, the Shafaudeen founder emphasised the need for shared values and consistent orientation, calling for stronger collaboration among the National Orientation Agency, the media and other relevant institutions.
“Guiding youths towards success requires a collective vision in which policymakers, parents and stakeholders work together to build a society where every child can reach their full potential, regardless of socio-economic background,” he said.
“Our national values can only be fully realised through continuous orientation programmes and the responsible use of the media and social media platforms.”
At the end of the competition, Green House emerged overall winner with 132 points, followed by Purple House with 112 points. Blue House and White House came third and fourth with 110 and 106 points respectively.
The event also featured the presentation of awards to distinguished personalities, including Comrade Abdulsalam Abdul-Quadri, National Financial Secretary of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, and Comrade Emiola Alex, the Council’s State Chairman, among others.
