By Augusta Uchediunor

Social and Financial Pressures have been identified as the biggest concerns for Nigerian parents,  the Nestlé Parenting Index 2021 says.

The Nestlé Parenting Index 2021 is the outcome of a first-of-its-kind study into global parenting experiences.

Commissioned by Nestlé as part of its ongoing commitment to support families in the first 1,000 days of life, Nestlé Parenting Index is a unique new way of benchmarking and understanding the experiences of parents across the world today.

It reflects the views of over 8,000 moms and dads of babies aged 0-12 months in 16 countries.

In Nigeria, which is in the 12th position out of the 16 countries surveyed, pressure is a significant concern for parents.

The countries include Nigeria, U.S., U,K.  Mexico, Chile, Brazil,  Spain , Sweden, Germany, Poland, Romania, Israel, Saudi Arabia, India, China and Philippines.

About 70 per cent of them acknowledge high levels of social pressure, unsolicited advice and judgement from others often leading to feelings of stress, anxiety, shame and even guilt.

“On the other hand, Nigerian parents feel well equipped to make informed parental choices, reporting that their preferred sources of parental advice come from family members and health care professionals.

“The Nestlé Parenting Index identified eight universal factors that impact parenting across the world including pressure (internal and external), financial resilience, support for working life, easy baby, health and well-being resources, supportive environment, shared parenting, and parenting confidence.

“The most significant of these factors is pressure, something parents have little control over, but which has the biggest impact on parents around the world, contributing 23 per cent of the overall Parenting Index score.’’

The Parenting Index 2021 reveals that Nigeria ranks lowest on financial resilience with 68 per cent of Nigerian respondents admitting that raising a child has a strong impact on the family finances, especially with childbearing and health care related costs.

On supportive environment  and shared parenting, the  report shows that no fewer than 50 per cent of Nigerian parents agree that parenting responsibilities are equally shared in their households.

“This reflects the African culture which traditionally assigns the role of the provider to the men and primary care giver to women.

“Shared parenting is very topical today with calls for new dads to move beyond stereotypes of the past to become more equal partners in parenting. Nigeria is not left out of this conversation especially online,’’ it says.

However, the study notes that while the level of difficulty varies by country, there is no perfect place to raise a family as in every country surveyed, parents feel some form of internal and external pressure.

“This can materialise as judgement from other, including via social media, the unexpected realities of parenting, guilt caused by self-criticism and feelings of loneliness despite living in a hyper-connected world.  ‘’

“Even in Sweden, which ranks highest with an Index score of 75 over 100, parents face challenges, with a lack of parenting confidence being their biggest concern’’.

Going forward, Nestlé Parenting Index, https://www.theparentingindex.com/, is a call for all stakeholders to play their part to support parents in today’s context where the pressures and needs have evolved with the changing workforce and increasing financial pressures.

Thierry Philardeau, Senior Vice President, Head of Nestlé Nutrition Strategic Business Unit, Nestlé SA., said: “At Nestlé, we are always challenging ourselves to better understand the complexities of the parenting journey.

“We believe that finding solutions to the universal pressures faced by parents today will help them feel better supported in the decisions they make during the first crucial 1,000 days of a child’s life.

“Through Nestlé Parenting index, we can create a roadmap for change and for the first time measure it, today and in the years to come.

“But we cannot create measurable change alone.

“We are calling on those who share in our vision to join us in making this world an easier place to be a parent and raise healthier, happier future generations,” he says. (NAN)

By Peter Okolie

The Police Command in Anmabra has arrested one Miss Rejoice Raymond, 39 and Mrs Chidi Nwafor, 80, for allegedly subjecting three minors to physical and emotional torture.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Haruna Mohammed disclosed this in a statement in Awka.

Mohammed said the suspects were arrested at No.13 Akunwanta Mbamalu Str., Federal Housing Estates 3-3 Area, near Onitsha.

The police spokesman said the suspects allegedly confined the three children (two boys and a girl) inside different rooms and subjected them to torture without feeding.

According to him, the suspects inflicted several wounds on their body and left them unconscious.

“On Feb. 19, at about 5:50pm, following intelligence report, police operatives attached to 3-3 Police Station Nkwelle Ezunaka arrested two suspects and rescued three minors.

“Scene was visited by the DPO 3-3, CSP Abdu Bawa, where a gory sights of badly battered victims, one with a broken arm were found in the pool of their blood and whose parents were neither seen nor known.

“Meanwhile, the children were rescued and rushed to the hospital for medical attention,” he stated.

Mohammed said preliminary investigation further revealed some fetish substances, blood stained canes, concoctions and other incriminating items were all recovered inside the rooms.

While noting that the items have been registered as exhibits, Mohammed said the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Monday Kuryas had ordered for a discreet investigation into the case.

He added that the suspects would be brought to justice after completion of investigation. (NAN)

The Royal Malaysian Police on Thursday said that they questioned the founder of Sugar book.

The website claims to match young women with so-called sugar daddies, after the suspect was arrested.

The website, which labels itself “the pinnacle of luxury dating,’’ is being investigated for prostitution and breaches of Malaysia’s communications laws.

The Sugar book website was reportedly blocked by Malaysian authorities earlier this week after police received complaints.

Darren Chan, the founder of Sugar book, responded to the block on Tuesday, saying that “we have a responsibility to help people build modern relationships.’’

The police have not named Chan in their statements about the case.

According to recent statements by Sugar book and a similar platform called Seeking Arrangement.com, tens of thousands of Malaysian women have registered on both websites, with numbers jumping in January after Malaysia’s government imposed a second coronavirus lockdown.

The reported increase in subscribers prompted Ahmad Marzuk Shaary, Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs in the Prime Minister’s Office, to say on Sunday that Sugar book should be prevented from being used in our country.

He added that it encourages people to do things that are not right and violate the laws including Sharia (Islamic) law. (dpa/NAN)

By Emmanuel Afonne

Former Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has pledged to support the Jennifer Etuh Foundation (JEF) to empower the under-served women and girls in the country with quality education and health.

Jonathan gave the pledge in Abuja, at the inauguration of the foundation specifically set up in memory of late Mrs Jennifer Etuh, wife of Mr Thomas Etuh, Chairman, Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN), who died in 2020.

He said people were usually celebrated because of the impact they made in the lives of others, and that in Jennifer’s case, her love for the poor would always be remembered even in death.

“It is not how long you live on earth that matters but what people say about you; we are here celebrating this lady because of what she achieved in a short while.

“People like this are rare to see because when she saw that she couldn’t survive her ailment, she told the husband ‘build a foundation for me to focus on girl-child education and health’.

“I am happy that the husband, children and friends have laboured to establish this foundation. As the Chairman of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, we will partner with Jennifer Etuh Foundation in every respect,” Jonathan said.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, lauded the late Mrs Etuh describing her as a woman of virtue.

Gbajabiamila regretted that he never had the opportunity to meet Mrs Etuh before her death but noted that the foundation had given him the opportunity to pay her a respect.

“Testimonies abound, but I must say that Mrs Jennifer Etuh came on a mission and she accomplished her mission and I will support the foundation with what I have and prayers,” he said.

In his memorial sermon, Pastor Agu Irukwu, Regional Pastor, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), United Kingdom (UK), said Jennifer ran a good course and finished with an impressive score.

“Written upon Mrs Etuh’s grave was that part of the scripture that says, ‘I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race and I have kept the faith’; Mrs Etuh’s deeds live on

“Those who died in the Lord are blessed because of where they go and who they go to meet,” the pastor said.

Earlier, Mr Thomas Etuh said he would forever remain grateful to God for achieving the desire of his wife which was to build a foundation to cater for less privileged women and girls.

Etuh said that the Jennifer Etuh Foundation comprising hospitals and schools would be established in the six geopolitical zones of the country to take care of our girls and women especially those with breast cancer.

“Before my wife died, she talked about things she wanted our four kids and I to give out and things she wanted for the foundation.

“She wanted hospital care that will be subsidised and a place where young ladies can acquire skills.

“We have contracted three world class hospitals, three cancer diagnostic centre and vocational centres; one each in Osun, Imo, Cross River, Lagos, Gombe, Kogi and in a state in North West; these hospitals are mother and child.

“Jennifer told me that I should put whatever she has in the foundation and basically these are her jewellery, wristwatches and so on,” Etuh said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jennifer Etuh Foundation has programmes and interventions for the less privileged on girl-child education, maternal and child healthcare, women skill acquisition and entrepreneurship as well as women empowerment.

It also focuses on women vocational empowerment and education. (NAN)

By Mujidat Oyewole

A Kwara High Court sitting in Ilorin on Monday sentenced 34-year-old Kelvin Monye to six months imprisonment for offences bordering on romance scam.

The presiding judge, Mahmood Abdulgafar, gave the judgment after finding the defendant guilty of the two-count charge against him by the Ilorin Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Mr Olasode Olumide, an operative of EFCC, told the court that on Jan. 12, some concerned residents at Tanke area in Ilorin petitioned EFCC over the activities of some internet fraudsters around the neighborhood.

Olumide said that investigations into the petition led to Monye’s arrest.

Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Kelvin Isioma Monye (Hassan George), sometime in the month of June 2018, cheated by impersonation, by portraying yourself as a white male, named Hassan via your email address kelvinmonye37@gmail.com  to one Louise Evan.

“That you induced her to send you $1000 in gift cards, a representation you knew to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 324 of the Penal Code.”

Monye pleaded guilty to the two-count charge against him.

In his judgment, Justice Abdulgafar convicted and sentenced Monye to three months imprisonment on each of the two counts, adding that the sentence would run concurrently.

The judge also ordered that the iPhone 6 and Sony Laptop used as instruments of the crime, including the sum of N460,000 which Monye restituted, should be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria. (NAN)

By Emmanuel Afonne

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has signed an agreement with an NGO, Gender Mobile Initiative (GMI), to fight against sexual violence in tertiary institutions in the country.

Ms Omowumi Ogunrotimi, Executive Director and Founder, Gender Mobile Initiative (GMI), an NGO in forefront of campaign against sexual violence, said on Wednesday that the agreement became necessary to ensure that no student was left behind in the campaign.

Ogunrotimi said that the group’s advocacy against sexual violence had no particular gender in mind as male and female folks suffered sexual harassment by the opposite sex.

She said that a bystander intervention mechanism had been created to provide support for students to build the capacity of other students to provide a support system to others who found themselves in such a situation.

“When you are doing advocacy at this level, you have to get the buy-in of critical stakeholders; if we are talking about addressing sexual harassment in tertiary institution, then, NANS is a critical component of that process.

“It is very important that it is part of it; it is also very important that it carries on the vision and takes ownership of the process. That way, where you are to spend N10, you probably spend N5.

“There are several bureaucratic processes in the environment of learning, more so, when you are doing advocacy to bring about a change.

“It’s possible that you meet resistance but when you get the buy-in of an umbrella body like NANS which mandates it to cater for the needs of Nigerian students, it also shows that we will have a seamless process.

“So, we are also trying to address some of these dynamics which we need to consider to achieve concrete results. At the moment, we are in partnership with Vice Presidents of some of these institutions.

“We will continue to broker such partnerships to ensure we get our desired result,” Ogunrotimi said.
NANS President, Dayo Asefon, said sexual violence had become a monster that must be tackled headlong in tertiary institutions.

“This is a war student leaders must come together to fight; sex for marks must not be condoned and we must fight it to a standstill.

“NANS leadership is happy to associate with Gender Mobile in this fight against abuse of privileges on the students.

“You will see lecturers interested in having sex with student making it a condition to get a pass mark in their exams; this is what we must come together to fight, so I have to sign it.

According to Asefon, the campaign is expected to achieve the desired goal in the shortest time possible since 99 per cent of the NANS Vice Presidents in the over 300 tertiary institutions in the country are females.

“Most of our vice presidents in all our campuses are female students and I urge the group to work with them because they are closer to their female counterparts,” he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that GMI is partnering no fewer than 100 tertiary institutions in the country to ensure that sexual violence was eradicated in institutions of learning.

The group also plans to launch a sexual violence reporting app popularly known as “Campus Pal” in various tertiary institutions in the country in March, to report cases of sexual harassment.

The app is developed with the support of Ford Foundation, an international NGO, with special focus on students, lecturers, non-academic staff members and people coming to the environment of learning. (NAN)