Sam Empowerment Foundation (SEF), an NGO, has advised parents and caregivers in the country on proper upbringing of their children to ensure a better and responsible nation.

Mrs Kiema Ogunlana, Project Director of the Foundation, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) shortly after end of the year cellebration with children, at the Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP) camp New-Kuchigoro Abuja.

Ogunlana said that proper upbringing of children was important, as it predicts how they perform in the domains of social competence, psycho-social development, academic performance and problem behaviour.

“As the season is winning down my advice to parents and caregivers is that they should pay more attention to their children and ensure that they know their whereabout.

“Everyone has a role to play in the upbringingof children in the society, including the security agencies, churches, mosques and the traditional rulers.

“But the parents and caregivers have a greater role to play through proper upbringing and adequate discipline, to have a better nation and society,” she said.

She said the organisation was committed to ensure that children and the less privileged in the country have access to quality education and adequate health care.

According to her, the foundation serves to increase the public understanding on the benefit of supporting educational advancement and supporting children and less-privileged in the society.

“We render services to make life better for children and the less privileged in the society especially at the rural areas and far to reach communities.

“We have carried out different interventions in health, education, women empowerment and civic engagement in the country.

“Education is our responsibility and we want to ensure that all kids have access to quality education and smooth sail in their academic pursuit,” she said.

However, she maintained that there was need to equip parents with the knowledge and skills needed to take on the responsibility of parenting the 21st century children to ensure a better and responsible nation.

Christiana Philip, a child at the IDP camp thanked the foundation for their gifts, donations and support and promised to conduct herself properly during and after the Christmas cellebration.

NAN reports that the foundation donated gifts and educational materials to the children and the event featured dancing and quiz competition with santa claus. (NAN)