By Paul Williams
Non-governmental organisation, Ese Usamali Foundation For Rural Development (EUFORDe), has partnered with the Women’s Ministry of Assemblies of God Church to mark this year’s Mother’s Day with a call for stronger parental responsibility and deeper family bonding.
The event, which held recently and was hosted by the resident pastor, Rev. E. C. Okere, alongside his wife, Rev. Mrs. Anne Okere, drew more than 420 participants, including women, church members and guests, for a lively and reflective session on the theme, ‘Breaking Barriers to Our Responsibility.’
A major highlight of the celebration was a debate anchored by EUFORDe on the question of the extent to which parents are responsible for children’s failure, as well as the distinct roles of fathers and mothers in child upbringing.
The discussion, which generated wide interaction among participants, examined the burden of parenting and the need for both parents to play active, complementary roles in shaping the child.
Drawing from Proverbs 22:6 and Ephesians 6:4, the session stressed the importance of discipline, moral training, leadership and emotional grounding in the home.
Speakers at the programme noted that parenting cannot be left to one side of the family, insisting that children thrive best where fathers and mothers work together in love, consistency and accountability.
In her remarks, the Women’s Ministry Sessional Coordinator, Rev. Mrs. Anne Okere, commended EUFORDe for facilitating the conversation, describing it as timely and necessary.
She said the ministry would henceforth institute quarterly family dialogue sessions to sustain the engagement and deepen conversations around home management and child upbringing.
Speaking after the event, the Executive Director of EUFORDe, Mercy Elemchukwu-James, said the partnership reflected the foundation’s commitment to strengthening families and promoting community-led development in Rivers State.
She said when parents share responsibility, children are better equipped to thrive and communities become stronger.
The Mother’s Day outreach ended with prayers for families and a renewed call on fathers and mothers to break barriers that weaken family responsibilities and work together to build stable homes.
Ese Usamali Foundation For Rural Development is a CAC-registered community action group committed to supporting vulnerable communities, rural livelihoods and welfare, food security and family development.
