Instill values in children, First Lady urges mothers

…as EFCC unveils Cybercrime Rapid Response Desk

By Kunle Sanni

First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has urged mothers to take a proactive role in shaping the future of their children by instilling core values and fostering open communication.

She made the call during the National Cybercrime Summit in Abuja, where the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) launched its 24/7 Cybercrime Rapid Response Desk.

Addressing the event, Mrs. Tinubu emphasized the importance of hard work, honesty, and the moral responsibility of parents, particularly mothers, in guiding their children.

“We are our children’s first teachers,” she stated. “What we inculcate in them matters greatly to their outcome in life. Be their friends, don’t be judgmental, but love them until they find themselves.”

The First Lady highlighted the digital age’s dual role of providing immense opportunities while exposing the nation to new cyber threats. She pointed to the rising involvement of young people in cybercrime, noting that youth make up more than 60% of Nigeria’s population.

“Despite thousands of arrests and convictions, cybercrime involvement is not declining. This poses a serious threat to our nation’s quest for economic development and stability.”

She urged parents to instill the value of hard work and the dignity of labor in their children, stressing that a bond of trust is essential in nurturing responsible future citizens. Mrs. Tinubu also quoted from the Bible, urging Nigerians to work together for the nation’s prosperity.

“As the scriptures say, ‘…the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field’ (Ecclesiastes 5:9). The commonwealth of Nigeria belongs to all of us, and we must guide our youth towards positive online activities rather than cybercrime.”

Several dignitaries, including the Minister of State for Youth, Hon. Ayodele Olawande, Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, and traditional rulers, echoed the First Lady’s sentiments.

They stressed the importance of value reorientation and called on families, religious institutions, and traditional leaders to lead the fight against cybercrime through cultural and moral restoration.

At the event, Senator Tinubu officially launched the EFCC’s 24/7 Cybercrime Rapid Response Desk, designed to reduce the response time between reporting cybercrime incidents and the agency’s intervention.