Bring back religious education in schools says Archbishop of Lagos

Archbishop Alfred Martins of the Archdiocese of Lagos, in Nigeria, has called for the re-introduction of moral and religious education in the country’s education curriculum to help stem what he has described as the, “alarming rate of moral decadence in educational institutions and in Nigerian society,” as a whole.

Archbishop Martins made the call in a statement released recently in Lagos. The statement was signed on behalf of the Archbishop by Monsignor Gabriel Osu, the Director of Communication for the Archdiocese of Lagos.

Commenting on the recent, ‘Day of the African Child’ which is commemorated annually on 16 June, by African countries, Archbishop Martins noted that the yearly celebration was an opportunity for Nigerian leaders and other stakeholders to reflect on the present-state of Nigerian children and how they are faring. He added that much still needed to be done in order to safeguard the future of the country’s children.

The Archbishop called on the administration of Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari to place a premium on the religious and moral development of the country’s children in order to raise honest and God-fearing future leaders.

Archbishop Martins further appealed to the nation’s children to always emulate the virtues of Jesus, who as a child, was submissive to his parents at all times. The Metropolitan of Lagos Archdiocese then listed some of the challenges facing the nation’s children. Among the challenges outlined by the Archbishop were juvenile delinquency, poverty, social inequality, a failed educational system, family problems and peer pressure. The Archbishop urged all stakeholders to join hands in finding solutions to the challenges.

Alluding to the high rate of abandoned children and orphans now roaming the streets in some of Nigeria’s states, especially in the North-east region, Archbishop Martins called on government to take-over the welfare of such children and ensure they receive proper care and education so that they can mature into useful citizens who contribute to the growth and development of the country.

(Catholic News Service of Nigeria)

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